How to Influence Anyone, Anywhere, Every Time

CHAPTER 11GESTURES

‘Whenever I'm presenting, I never know what to do with my hands.' We hear this often.

Our response is always the same: ‘Where else in your life is this a problem? Are you walking down the corridor thinking, what do I do with my hands?’

Gestures are powerful communication tools, and we know that when people use gestures, they do it quite naturally. Again, observe people in social situations and notice how naturally expressive people are in using gestures unselfconsciously.

Handshakes

Let's start by looking at one of the most interesting uses of hands: the handshake. This is an almost universal form of greeting, with artistic depictions of this behaviour dating back to Ancient Greece. While it is now a form of greeting, it began as a way to check for weapons (if the person you were greeting was armed, they may be carrying a knife strapped to their forearm).

These days, the handshake has become a standard and widely accepted form of greeting in many cultures around the world. It's used in professional settings to greet, leave, thank, congratulate or seal an agreement. The meaning can vary depending on the context and the culture, but it generally symbolises goodwill, respect and openness.

A few months ago, I was running a program in Budapest, Hungary. Such a beautiful city. One of the participants from England is a determined, ambitious guy. He walked up with his tall, confident gait, put out his hand and said, ‘Good to see you again, Colin’. We shook hands. ...