Your body language can support your message or work against it. Some common gestures make you look nervous, defensive or hard to trust, even when your content is strong. The audience then pays attention to your hands instead of your ideas.
You may have heard that 55% of communication is body language, 38% is tone of voice and only 7% is words. That figure is a misreading. It comes from Albert Mehrabian's experiments in the 1960s, which looked at how people judge feelings when someone's words, voice and face send mixed signals. It was never meant to describe all communication. Your words matter a great deal. The real lesson is this: when your body language contradicts your words, people tend to believe your body.
Here are seven gestures to watch for in a presentation, and what to do instead.
Seven negative body language gestures to avoid
1. Touching your neck
Rubbing or touching your neck is a self-soothing gesture. People do it without thinking when they feel uncomfortable, and audiences read it as nervousness.
Instead: keep your hands in front of you at waist height, ready to gesture.
2. Clasping your hands tightly in front of you
Gripping your hands together, or holding them like a shield in front of your body, looks defensive. It suggests you are uncomfortable and would rather not be there.
Instead: let your hands rest loosely together and release them to gesture as you speak. Resting is fine. Gripping is what gives you away.
3. Hiding your palms
Open palms are widely read as a sign of honesty. Keeping your palms turned down or your fists closed throughout a talk can make you seem guarded, as if you are holding something back.
Instead: show your palms when you explain a point or invite the audience to consider an idea. See more in our guide to hand gestures for presentations.
4. Clasping your hands behind your back
Holding your hands behind your back can look like you are restraining yourself. Audiences often read it as tension, and it also takes your hands out of play.
Instead: bring your hands to the front, where they can help you explain.
5. Crossing your arms
Crossed arms put a barrier between you and the audience. Even if you are simply cold or comfortable, people often read it as defensive or closed off.
Instead: keep your arms uncrossed and your chest open to the room.
6. Keeping your hands in your pockets
Hands in pockets can look casual in conversation, but on stage it often comes across as unsure or disengaged. Like hidden palms, it gives the audience less reason to trust what you say. It also tempts you to jingle keys or coins.
Instead: empty your pockets before you start, so your hands stay out.
7. Fidgeting
Playing with a pen, a ring or the clicker is one of the most common signs of nerves. It pulls the audience's eyes to your hands and away from your message.
Instead: put down anything you don't need. If you hold a clicker, keep it still and only use it to change slides.
How to break these habits
Most of these gestures are habits built up over years, so they won't disappear overnight. Work on them one at a time:
- Find out which ones you do. Record yourself presenting and watch it on mute. Or ask a colleague to watch for one specific habit.
- Replace, don't just remove. It is easier to start a new habit, like resting your hands in front of you, than to simply stop an old one.
- Practise under light pressure, such as a team meeting, before trying it in a big presentation.
Related guides
- Public speaking posture to project confidence
- Overcome stage fright and presentation anxiety
- How to improve your speaking voice
- How to use the right tone of voice
About Speak Sell Succeed
Speak Sell Succeed teaches public speaking, presentation and communication skills to working adults in Singapore. Every course is taught in person by our founder, Iwan Yang, at our centre in Tanjong Pagar. Iwan has more than ten years of speaking and training experience and has personally trained more than 3,000 people.
Most people can't see their own habits. In our Presentation Skills & Public Speaking course, you practise in front of the class and Iwan gives you feedback on your body, face and voice, so you know exactly what to keep and what to change.
Eligible Singapore Citizens can use SkillsFuture Credit for our courses, and NTUC members can claim UTAP. See upcoming course dates or message us on WhatsApp if you would like help choosing.
Frequently asked questions
Is 93% of communication non-verbal?
No. The 55/38/7 figure comes from Albert Mehrabian's experiments on how people judge feelings when words, voice and face send mixed signals. It was never meant to describe communication in general.
Is it bad to cross your arms during a presentation?
It is best avoided. Even if you are simply comfortable, audiences often read crossed arms as defensive or closed off.
Can I put my hands in my pockets while presenting?
It is better not to. It can look unsure or disengaged, and it tempts you to fidget with keys or coins.
How do I stop fidgeting when I present?
Put down anything you don't need, empty your pockets and rest your hands loosely in front of you between gestures. Recording yourself helps you notice the habit.
