“What do I actually do with my hands?” I hear this question in almost every coaching session. The moment people stand in front of an audience, their hands suddenly feel like foreign objects. They tug at sleeves, disappear into pockets or wave around in the air.
Yet your hands are one of your strongest tools. They reinforce your message, make ideas tangible and show your audience that you mean what you say. That’s why, in my book “3, 2, 1… Reden ist jetzt Deins”, body language, gestures and posture get their own part of the House of Speaking method. Here are the most important tips.
Why your hands matter so much
Your audience doesn’t just listen to you, they watch you. And when in doubt, they believe what they see. Calm, open hands look confident and honest. Restless hands give away nerves, even when your words sound self-assured.
The good news: you don’t need to memorize gestures. A calm base position and knowing when a gesture helps is all it takes.
7 tips for your hands during a presentation
1. Find your base position
Your base position is where your hands go back to whenever they have nothing to do. A proven option: hands loosely in front of your body at about navel height, lightly resting in each other or with your fingertips touching. From there you can gesture at any moment, and it looks open. Arms hanging relaxed at your sides work too, if that feels natural to you.
2. Hold something
A simple trick I also describe in my book: hold a pen or your clicker. It gives you something to hold on to and stops your hands from looking for something to do. The rule: you hold it, you don’t play with it. No clicking, no twirling, no waving.
3. Show open palms
Open palms, turned slightly upwards, signal openness and honesty. They invite rather than lecture. That’s especially powerful when you ask your audience a question or invite them to do something.
4. Use gestures to underline your points
Gestures work when they match your words. Count on your fingers when you announce “three points”. Show sizes, distances or trends with your hands: “this big”, “from here to there”, “straight up”. Gestures like these help your audience remember.
5. Gesture in the right zone
Gestures between your hips and shoulders look natural and are easy to see. Gestures below the belt get lost, gestures above your head quickly look exaggerated. In a larger room, your gestures can be a little bigger so they reach the back row.
6. Know your nervous habits
Almost everyone has a habit that shows up under pressure: twisting a ring, adjusting glasses, touching their hair, rubbing their hands. You don’t have to fight it. It’s enough to know it. Once you know your habit, you’ll notice it in the moment and can go back to your base position.
7. Use the lectern deliberately
A lectern can give you stability, but it can also become a wall. Rest your hands on it calmly when you need your notes, but don’t cling to it. If the setting allows, step out beside it from time to time. Then the stage is yours.
What to avoid
- Hiding your hands: both hands in your pockets or behind your back for long stretches look closed off and take gestures away as a tool.
- Crossed arms: they look defensive, even if they just feel comfortable to you.
- Frantic gesturing: constant waving distracts from your content. A gesture has more impact when there’s calm before and after it.
- Laser pointer circles: if you point at something, do it calmly and briefly, not as a light show.
How to practice your gestures
- Video, not the mirror. In front of a mirror, you watch yourself, not your audience. Record a run-through on your phone instead.
- Watch with the sound off. Watch the recording once without sound. You’ll see right away which movements work and which distract.
- Plan gestures for your key message. Pick a fitting gesture for your two or three most important points. The rest can come naturally.
- Test it with an object. Try whether a pen or clicker calms you down, and make sure it doesn’t become a distraction itself.
Hands are only one part of your body language. Stance, eye contact and how you use the room matter just as much: read more in Body language for presentations. And if nerves are the reason your hands won’t settle, it helps to tackle the cause. More on overcoming stage fright.
Bottom line
Your hands aren’t a problem, they’re a tool. With a calm base position, a few deliberate gestures and some practice, they’ll reinforce your message instead of distracting from it. And the best part: the more confident you feel about your content, the more naturally your hands will follow. If you want to work on how you come across in a real presentation, that’s what we do in coaching for presentations and talks.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do with my hands during a presentation?
Find a calm base position you can gesture from at any time: hands loosely in front of your body at about navel height, or relaxed at your sides. From there, use gestures whenever they underline a point.
Can I hold something while presenting?
Yes. A pen, a clicker or cue cards can give you stability and stop nervous movements. Just don't play with it: no clicking, twirling or waving.
Is it bad to put your hands in your pockets when presenting?
One hand in a pocket for a moment won't hurt at a casual event. But both hands in your pockets or behind your back for long stretches look closed off and take away gestures as a tool. An open base position works better.
How can I improve my hand gestures?
Record a run-through on video and watch it with the sound off. You'll immediately see which gestures work and which distract. Plan a deliberate gesture for your two or three most important points and practice until it feels natural.
