A gesture is a hand, head, or face movement that emphasizes, pantomimes, demonstrates, or calls attention to something.4 Gestures can add flair to your speech delivery, especially when they seem natural rather than overly practiced.5 Research also indicates that gestures can benefit a listener’s ability to understand a speech’s message.6 The effectiveness of a gesture depends on how it links with the speech topic—so gestures depicting physical actions communicate more than those depicting abstract topics. Hand gestures that link with speech content are called co-speech gestures (CSGs). CSGs communicate thoughts and ideas in two different ways—linguistically (through words that are heard) and visually (through the gesture that is seen). Neuroimaging of the brain shows that when CSGs are used with speech, there is more activity in the parts of the brain involved with language processing—meaning that listeners understand and retain more.7

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But gestures can backfire. For one thing, not all your listeners will interpret the same gesture—a clenched fist, an open palm, a raised forefinger—in the same way.8 For example, some people see a fist as a symbol of violence, and others consider it a show of forcefulness or determination. If an audience member interprets a particular gesture differently from what you intended, you may inadvertently send the wrong message to that person.

You also should be aware that gestures may communicate a message that is inconsistent with your verbal message. For example, some people have criticized President Obama when he points an index finger straight up and wags it back and forth when speaking. This gesture can work if the intention is to criticize or dismiss an individual or a group, but it risks making the speaker seem arrogant, overly pious, or condescending. Gestures like this also can reinforce negative perceptions that a particular audience may already have. For example, many of the president’s critics in Congress felt that he was book smart but not experienced in the political realities of Washington, DC, because he had served in the U.S. Senate for only four years before being elected president. For them, the president’s wagging finger may have reinforced the image of a professor lecturing them as if they were his students and not his political peers.

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In addition to ensuring that your gestures reinforce your spoken message, avoid using distracting gestures born of nervousness—such as stuffing your hands in your pockets; jingling keys or change in your pockets; or fiddling with a watch, ring, or pen. These behaviors can distract audience members to the point that they’ll start focusing more on your gestures than on your speech.

To get the most from gestures, follow these guidelines: