What Do I Do With My Hands When Public Speaking?

If you’ve ever stood in front of an audience wondering what to do with your hands, you’re not alone. Do I cross them? Hold the microphone with both hands? Keep them still? Too much movement feels distracting, while doing nothing feels unnatural.

It’s one of the most common questions people ask, and one of the most relatable fears every public speaker experiences.

A speaker using their hands for expression during a presentation

Your hands aren’t the enemy; they’re one of your most powerful communication tools. Used correctly, gestures can:

• Reinforce your message

• Convey enthusiasm

• Make your delivery feel authentic and natural

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At Stand Up and Speak, we teach students to embrace gestures as an extension of their message. Whether it’s a child learning to express excitement in their first speech or a teen preparing for competition, confident body language helps every speaker connect more deeply with their audience.

1. Anchor, then move naturally. Start from a neutral position, hands at your sides or resting lightly on a podium. Let gestures emerge naturally when emphasizing key points.

2. Match emotion, not memorization. Gestures shouldn’t be choreographed. Let them flow from your feelings. When you genuinely care about what you’re saying, your hands will mirror that energy.

3. Avoid the “penguin” and the “windmill.”Keeping your hands frozen or flailing uncontrollably both distract. Aim for calm, open gestures that add confidence, not chaos, to your delivery.

Your hands help tell your story when public speaking.

When your body and voice align, your message becomes memorable, and your confidence becomes visible. Your hands are a catalyst for your message when public speaking.

If you or your child wants to master confident communication, check out our Public Speaking Courses for kids, teens, and adults in Mississauga, Brampton, Milton, Toronto, Orangeville, or online anywhere in Canada, the US, or around the world.