

Then, you may begin to feel musculoskeletal pain, meaning pain in your muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons and nerves. What are the symptoms of overuse syndrome?Īt the beginning, your arms and hands will just feel tired and fatigued, which you may think is normal. When you push these body parts to their limit, it often results in overuse syndrome. There are certain jobs and activities that can cause overuse syndrome, including:Īll of these jobs and activities can put a lot of repeated stress on your hands and arms. Performing repetitive tasks that involve your hands and arms is the main cause of this disorder. This may work for her, but such gestures can "feel sort of stagey" or tense to the audience, says Barnett (Tan/McGregor, " On Leadership," Washington Post, 11/17).How can I recognize early signs of overuse syndrome in hands and arms? German Chancellor Angela Merkel often holds her hands in front of her, making an inverted triangle with her fingers. If you're right in front of the audience, make sure not to hold your hands behind your back.ĭon't try to create a branded hand gesture. If you're at a podium, either gesture with your hands or lightly rest them on the top. "People fidget, and they're often clueless to what they're doing," says Barnett. It's boring," says Gina Barnett, an executive communications coach.ĭon't hold things.

"When you do anything in a repetitive pattern, is gone. Just as you mix up the length of sentences in your speech, be sure to vary your gestures too. Instead of clasping your hands in front of you, allow them to fall to your sides. "It's like home base for our arms" and serves as a reset button, says Jerry Weissman, a corporate presentations coach.ĭon't draw attention to your groin. If you don't know what to do, let your hands fall to your sides. Your next health care strategy presentation is readyĪvoid pointing and the "Clinton Thumb." Pointing and a fist with the thumb on top of it come off as aggressive. Don't get too wild with your gestures-try to keep them between your shoulders and hips. "If I'm showing open palms, it signals to everybody that I've got nothing to harm you and I'm exposed," says Mark Bowden, president of a communications training firm. Making outstretched gestures has an evolutionary underpinning. It's a way we underline, like a nonverbal highlighter, the word people should remember," says Van Edwards. "It helps people remember the number it helps us believe the word.

If you're talking about a number below five, hold up the correct number of fingers.

If you're discussing something small, pinch your fingers. The Washington Post's "On Leadership" team spoke with body language experts and speech coaches to determine the best ways to use your hands during a presentation. "Because it's getting two explanations in one, and the brain loves that." "When really charismatic leaders use hand gestures, the brain is super happy," says Vanessa Van Edwards, a consultant who studied the TED talks. Webconference: Making a memorable presentation
