Speaker evaluation memo - Essay Example

For purposes of this speaker evaluation memo, the has chosen Steve Bavister’s video en d “What to do with your hands when you are presenting”. One of the aspects of presentation that has been discussed at some depth within this course has to do with the use of body language as a means of engaging the audience with nonverbal forms of communication. Naturally, there are many different forms of body language which can be discussed. However, for purposes of this particular speaker evaluation, the discussion will be concentric specifically upon the use of hand gestures and the means by which hand position to have a powerful impact with regard to the way in which a particular speaker is understood.

Accordingly, it is the hope of this particular author that the following discussion will provide a useful and effective level of analysis with respect to some of the key points that Steve Bavister made within his video.Firstly, it is relevant and true that a speaker who does not utilize effective hand positioning or movement risks losing the interest for attention of the audience. Moreover, as the speaker notes, effective hand positioning and gesturing is an added way in which information can be conveyed in a non-verbal format.

Yet, in much the same way that effective use of hand gesturing can help to engage the audience, ineffective or nonexistent gesturing can have it is equally detrimental effect (Bavister 1:06-1:19). For instance, the speaker noted that holding one’s hands behind the back could have a particularly negative connotations for many individuals within the audience; as they might in for this to mean that A) speaker has something that he/she is attempting to conceal B) that it is reflective of a military background and could negatively impact the power dynamics that are represented with respect to whatever discussion is being had and C) such a posture appears unnatural and stiff.

For all of these reasons, the reader can relevantly understand that body language, posture, and hand positioning has a profound impact with respect to the nonverbal cues that a particular audience might receive from the speaker (Goldin-Meadow and Alibali 261).By much the same token, holding one’s hands and placing them in front is disparaged by Steve Bavister due to the fact that it appears as if the individual is attempting to cover their genitals or that they are in fact in and overly defensive mode.

Similarly, crossing one’s arms across the chest can either denote that the individual is not willing to listen or entertain new ideas or that they are frustrated and annoyed with some component of the discussion that is being had.An interesting element of analysis that must be included at this point has to do with the fact that even though Steve Bavister warned against excessive hand gestures, he used a hand gesture for almost every thought and idea that he represented within the video. Although it is clear and apparent that this particular public speaker is an accomplished professional, it would appear to this analyst that the use of hand gestures was excessive and limited an audience member to become frustrated with the fact that absolutely every thought, action, and word was accompanied by a hand gesture that was almost identical to the one that preceded it.

Works CitedBavister, Steve. "What to do with your hands when youre presenting!" YouTube. N.p., 20 July 2009. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.Goldin-Meadow, Susan, and Martha Wagner Alibali. "Gestures Role In Speaking, Learning, And Creating Language." Annual Review Of Psychology 64.1 (2013): 257-283. Business Source Complete. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.