When coaching my executive clients on stage presence, I come across one major issue time and time again: they don’t know what to do with their hands. They’ll put their hands in their pockets, behind their back, close to the chest or waist, or otherwise close to the body — in effect making themselves smaller and “hiding” from their audience. Another common problem is “blocking” the audience: crossing their arms, hiding behind a podium, or, worse, putting their hands on their hips in an aggressive display.

If you want to connect with your audience, your body language is just as important as the words you use and the slide deck that guides your presentation. So how can you use body language to your advantage?

Invite your audience in. 

Read on for three ways to improve your body language for better audience engagement.

1. Be Vulnerable
2. Accentuate Your Message
3. Don’t be Repetitive

1. Be Vulnerable

Opening up vulnerable areas of your body such as your chest and torso lets your audience know you trust them and that you’re trustworthy. Keep your arms open and elbows away from your body to make yourself appear larger and more inviting on stage, rather than small and timid.

In addition, position your palms face up to draw your audience in; this is preferable to facing them down, which can be seen as giving orders. Keeping your palms open and visible to the audience shows them you have nothing to hide and that your message is sincere.

2. Accentuate Your Message

In addition to drawing in your audience, your body language can help reinforce your message. As you speak, “show” your message at the same time by incorporating hand gestures. For example, if you reference a number that’s five or less, show the number with your fingers in addition to speaking it. Or if you’re trying to emphasize something that’s large, do so by opening up your arms; for something that’s very small, pinch your fingers together.

Using your arms and hands in this way allows you to offer your audience two modes of learning — essentially giving the brain two explanations in one with both verbal and visual messaging. Audiences love learning this way; in fact, one study found that the most wildly popular TED Talks featured speakers who used their hands the most.

3. Don’t Be Repetitive

If you’re giving a presentation and want to make it memorable, hand gestures can help communicate your message and make you seem more animated. But hand gestures are only effective if they’re used sparingly — if you use the same gesture too frequently, it will lose its impact. Instead, use your gestures strategically for emphasis, and make sure you have a few different options in your repertoire.

Remember, the goal is to draw your audience in and make yourself approachable so your message is well received. “If they buy you, there’s a good chance they’ll buy whatever goes with you,” explains Allan Pease, Honorary Professor of Psychology at ULIM International University, noting that the first four minutes of an initial meeting are particularly crucial, as that’s when people form up to 90% of their opinion of a person. The reverse is also true, he adds: If they don’t buy you, they are not going to buy whatever goes with you, “even if it’s a good idea.”

If you want to win your audience over, you need to show some vulnerability, and the easiest way to do that is through some nonverbal cues. To learn more on this topic, check out my recent article on improving your stage presence, and reach out if you’d like some one-on-one coaching to nail your next presentation.