A Nice Gesture

Gestures are a necessity for any public appearance, both for a speech and for TV. Natural gestures put an audience at ease and make the speaker look alive and interested in the topic. Here are a few tips to gestures:

1. Never, ever point. Pointing makes a speaker look condescending and commanding. Bill Clinton's denial of sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky comes to mind. An open hand is a much better alternative. In the Hill's recent picture of Baltimore Mayor Patrick O'Malley to the right, he uses an inclusive, open-hand gesture.
2. Use big gestures for speeches and small ones for TV. In public speeches, gestures have to be big enough that people at the back of the room can see them. However, for TV, where the camera gives a small picture of the speaker, gestures need only be chest-sized. They should absolutely never cover the face.
3. Practice. This allows a speaker to appear natural when he gives his speech or appears on TV. The speaker should practice the gestures every times he practices his speech or points.