Where to Put the Hands?
During a presentation, your hands suddenly become the most troublesome part of your body. What feels completely natural in everyday life turns into pure awkwardness on stage. And your mind starts circling around a single question: “ What do I do with them ?” The result is the opposite of what we call “authentic” body language. But what does that actually mean? Authentic body language consists of gestures and movements that subtly reinforce what we’re saying. In daily life, we do this unconsciously. We hardly give a second thought to how we use our arms, legs, head, shoulders, or torso when we communicate. Yet the moment we stand up in a lecture hall or conference room and step forward, we suddenly have no idea what to do with all those body parts. The reason runs deep. Our primate brain sends a strong warning: the moment we stand up in front of a group, we risk standing out—drawing attention—and, in the worst case, being excluded. Instinctively, our brain freezes us. Relax “For i...
