Emoticons have become a staple of social media interaction. The emoticon we include in a text message enhances or even explains what we have just written. The lack of face-to-face interaction through social media has limited our effectiveness and so we used these symbols as a fill-in tool.
This highlights how important facial expressions and gestures are in communication. It is no different when we are making a public speaking presentation. Facial expressions and gestures enhance our message, give emotion to it as well as emphatically strengthen it. They can stir up feelings and enliven your voice.
Why Are Facial Expressions and Gestures Hard to Show?
It is a strange thing to observe, but some speakers forget about using gestures and facial expressions in public speaking, yet they use them in normal conversation. What changes? An animated conversationalist at dinner becomes a unmoving electricity pole on the public speaking stage. Has that happened to you? What goes wrong?
A problem arises when we try to use gestures as a technique rather than a natural part of who we are. Studying techniques may be useful in some areas of public speaking training, e.g. the structure of an outline or the use of rhetorical questions. But gestures and facial expressions are not a technique - they need to spring from our natural inner feelings. They show our conviction and sincerity. After all, you never studied how to laugh or how to be angry. The more spontaneous the gesture, the better it will be.
Types of Gestures 
There are two main types of gestures:
- Descriptive gestures - direction, location, size, distance, relative position
- Emphatic gestures - feelings and conviction
Descriptive can be the easier one to do, since our conversation can naturally include descriptions of items, people, etc.
Emphatic gestures can be overdone to the point of them being an annoying and distracting mannerism. Judicially used, emphatic gestures and reinforce a key point and add motivation to the well-prepared concluding comments.
Remember This About Gestures and Facial Expressions
- The culture of the audience may influence your choice of gestures. In some cultures, it is immodest for a woman to gesture freely with her hands. In others, if a man put his hand to his mouth to express shock, it is considered effeminate.
- Pointing at an audience can make them feel uncomfortable. It may imply that you are above them or more intelligent than them.
- Emphatic gestures can quickly turn into mannerisms.
- Facial expressions can be as powerful as the words you use. The slight inclination of the head, the shape of your mouth or the raising of eyebrows can express your feelings without words being spoken.
- Be self-aware. Know what gestures or facial expressions you are using. In the past, I have finished a presentation and my wife asked me if I was angry up there on stage. It seems that when I concentrate, I have a frown on my face - not the right facial expression to move an audience. It happens less often now; I am more self-aware.
- Smiles are great gestures when used appropriately. I went to a funeral service many years ago that a friend was conducting. He is the nicest guy, but he has a perennial grin which reflected his warm nature. He was so concerned that his natural facial expression (and he is Italian) might be undignified for the occasion. It wasn't, since it was coupled with a natural warmth toward the grieving ones.
Conclusion
So, did that get your hands moving? How big was that fish you caught? Are you smiling or frowning? Do you have a quizzical look on your face? Doesn't matter. You are expressing yourself with more than eloquent words. Those well-prepared words now mean so much more. They have emotion and feeling attached to them. Your chances of touching someone's heart have now sky-rocketed. Your audience, physically present or online, are now engaged with you. You are human and your message just might motivate them in a way that will be good for them and you.
Don't forget the tasks below. It will prove to be an effective way to remember this lesson. Of course, if we have a personal interest in our audience, it will be easier to express emotion and warmth toward them. Our next lesson discusses how we Show Interest in our Audience.
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