7 hand gestures guaranteed to get people to listen to you

7 hand gestures guaranteed to get people to listen to you7 hand gestures guaranteed to get people to listen to youNo matter what theyre talking about, the best speakers have one thing in common they use hand gestures. And they do it in a controlled, yet natural way.Psychologists say that hand gestures are a critical part of human communication. In fact, behavioral researcher familienkutscheessa Van Edwards discovered that speakers whose TED Talks went viral used an average of 465 hand gestures, versus the 272 used by speakers whose talks werent as popular.So the next time you want to make sure that your audience is engaged in what youre saying, throw in a few of the tried-and-true gestures weve animated below.Im CertainAnthropologist David Givens found that palms down gestures convey assertiveness not just in humans, but throughout the animal kingdom. Whether its lizards with their claws or humans with their hands, this pronated hand gesture shows dominance of a subject or subject m atter. Try it out when you know what youre talking about and have a directive to give its far more pleasant than finger pointingIm Being OpenBarbara and Allan Pease, authors of The Definitive Book of Body Language, explain that open palms are associated with truth and honesty. By holding them out at a 45-degree angle, youre both literally and figuratively showing your audience that you have nothing to hide. This gesture is best used when you want to be fully transparent. By putting it all out there, you welcome people in.Im Confident In MyselfSteepling, as its referred to in psychology, is a strong display of power and reflects higher-order thought processes like planning and problem-solving. Its been widely observed in CEOs, lawyers, professors and other people who exhibit self-assuredness. You, too, can use it when you want to share your wisdom on a certain matter.I Have A Big IdeaAccording to body language expert Dr. Carol Kinsey Goman, holding your hands out wider than your body visually conveys something grand and communicates your enthusiasm to those in your audience. Its a bold, effective gesture to use when youre introducing a new concept or thought that you feel might be a breakthrough.This Is The Way It IsThis vertical hand gesture embodies the abstract idea of rigid, unwavering precision. As the quick slicing motion comes to an abrupt stop, it physically grounds the message for the audience. There are two good times to use it when you want to make a strong, precise point or when you want to indicate a precise measurement.I Mean It From The Bottom Of My HeartA study by researchers Parzuchowski and Wojciszke found that when speakers place their hand over their heart they increase their audiences perception of honesty. Whats more, the gesture also increases the honesty shown in speakers own behavior. So when you truly believe in what youre saying and want it to sink with others, its an effective gesture to use.Finger CountingWhen listing things, it hel ps to say each number and hold up the corresponding number of fingers. The movement of your hand makes your points easier for listeners to remember and serves as a visual anchor for your list. Its useful when you have up to five key items to highlight and you want to ensure people follow along.When it comes to hand gestures, remember that less is more. Wildly gesturing with your hands all over the place is sure to engage your audience but for all the wrong reasons. Instead, use them to accentuate your message in order to be a better communicator.This article first appeared on Pound Place.