Talk to the Hands

Talk to the Hands???Needed or?Unnecessary

Political Columnist- Sherry Holliman

? Have you ever noticed the gestures people use with their hands and wonder what they are?doing? Some?people have a natural tendency to talk with their hands. This will either come off as?passionate?and expressive, or?annoying and distracting.?Are?you?a hand?talker??Most people?talk with their hands.?While some speakers use excessive hand gestures to communicate their point?this practice?can be?offensive and?distracting.?No matter?how often an?individual?uses hand gestures?it?is?important to pay?attention?to?the?hand gestures while?they?are communicating.?They?may unconsciously be communicating in ways?that do not match their emotions.

?However,?some?gestures are universal across cultures.??One role of gestures is that it can help people to find an understanding in?giving?a message. We all have had the experience of knowing what we want to say, but not being able to find the words.?Hand gestures can be used as a powerful aspect of communication, for?the speaker and the listener.??It?is believed that?people who?talk with their hands?are?viewed as agreeable,?and energetic while those who are less animated?are viewed as?logical, and analytical.?Hand gestures can help take what?is?in our mind and make it?real?to others. Gestures are?visual?connections,?and gesturing while you talk can?stimulate?the?listener's?thinking?process.?Gesturing can?also?help people form clearer thoughts.?

?At some point do you feel that hand?gesturing can?become?a little?excessive? Eventually becoming a distraction from the message??Gesture usage is very different?for the speaker and?listener.?When you see a person using their?hands,?they?are?talking?to illustrate a point?while?being animated.?The hands?are?being used as an echoing voice.?In some?cultures,?a?simple?wave of the hand can have?a?different communication.?Some people point?or may hold a fist?when they talk.??It is certain?that the?messenger using gestures is communicating differently but the function is the same in each culture.??

Speaking?with gestures and other nonverbal behavior?will?demonstrate?how not speaking can speak volumes.?Sometimes it?is?almost impossible to talk without using your hands. These gestures seem to be important to how we think.?Hand?gesturing?allows some?people to communicate at long distances where voices might not carry.?To?wave?a?greeting?or move away, a thumbs-up sign indicating approval?or display their?middle finger?as a?sign of disapproval, or an index finger pointing?to confirm selecting an item?or?accusing?someone of doing?something.?People don’t realize the power they?literally?have in their hands. There are times when your hands may save you.

?At some point people will?form?an?opinion?about a speaker that?will?help determine how we interpret what the speaker is saying?and the impression will come from the?nonverbal?communication?to?assess the?speaker's?trustworthiness?which?is?an?important factor in effective communication.?If an audience does not trust the?speaker, or at least think that the speaker believes what he is saying, then it will be almost impossible for that speaker to get his message across.?Understanding?gestures?can mean a lot to those who know what to look for.?To use gestures effectively, leaders need to be aware of how those movements will most likely be perceived.?If you communicate with your hands, ask your friends and family to offer feedback. You need to know what you are saying.?