“Most of all, you want people to see your hands,” she says. “Do not put them in your pockets, behind your back, or behind a podium.” If you don’t keep your hands where your audience can see them, people will perceive you as being “untrustworthy.”
“If an audience does not trust the presenter, or at least thinks that the speaker believes what he is saying, then it will be almost impossible for that speaker to get his or her message across,” she says.
It is also important for trainers to keep their palms facing up at about a 45-degree angle because that is a sign of “candor and openness,” Gorman explains.
If a trainer is “authentic” in his or her approach, appropriate hand gestures will come naturally, Gorman says. “You’ve got to know what you’re talking about, and you’ve got to be sold that what you’re talking about is valuable.”
“Authentic gestures begin split seconds before the words that accompany them,” she says. “They will either precede the word or will be coincident with the word, but will never come after the word.”
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Gorman says trainers should avoid certain hand gestures, such as finger-pointing (which gives the impression that you are scolding someone), putting your hands on your hips (which communicates defiance), and talking with you palms faced down (which is a controlling signal).
Trainers should be aware of their hand gestures, but Gorman cautions against overusing them. “I know people cringe, but videotaping yourself is a really great idea.” You can watch the video yourself or asked a coach or trusted friend to do so. Even watching the video with the volume off will help you identify hand gestures that worked effectively—and those that did not.
These are great points to help your trainers learn how to train more effectively. But where can you go to get good training information on a number of employment topics?