Your hands, like all parts of your body, are a vital element of your presentation. Hand gestures should be planned to compliment the content of your talk. Our subscription site showcases two dozen different gestures you can incorporate.

To get started, try this simple exercise.

Either video tape yourself, or, stand in front of a full length mirror. Now, explain to your interested audience (yourself) the latest sports event, or, the traffic on the way to work or some cute thing your kid or your pet has done.

Part two of the exercise is to explain something from your own workplace. (Yes, we know ... you feel ridiculous; but, the results are truly worth it.)

What are your hands doing? (even, your whole body)

• measuring
• describing
• clasping in excitement
• covering your eyes because it's too painful to watch
• thrusting over your head because it's so thrilling
• making a fist at the car in front of you
• banging a fist in disgust at the stupidity
• counting off the number of offsides