Pointers on Pointing

Gestures are a powerful part of any presentation. However, you have to be careful when you point at objects or people to ensure your body language doesn't send the wrong message. Here are a few things I've learned when pointing during presentations:

Don't use a laser. I love giving presentations; I get really excited when I'm in front of people. But that excited energy tends to make my hands shake a little. It's enough that I can't quite focus a laser dot on a single point without it bouncing a bit. If you're really nervous about being in front of people, the dot may dance all over the screen. That's distracting to your audience, and it takes away from the message you're trying to deliver. (Plus we've all seen those comics where the guy with the laser pointer accidentally beheads someone in his audience...)

Point at slides, point at objects, but don't point at people. We're all taught in school that it's not polite to point. Whether you intend it or not, pointing at people implies some measure of accusation. You want to invite your audience in to your message, not make them feel like they're on trial. So instead of pointing at someone, use an open hand with palm up and fingers out. This is a welcoming and encouraging gesture that brings people in rather than putting their backs up.

Use the mouse sparingly. If your mouse is bouncing around your screen throughout the presentation, people are going to get dizzy. Peter Cohen calls this "Pointer Palsy", and it's extremely distracting. Perform your actions slowly, so the mouse isn't racing around the screen. If you are giving a remote demo, you can gesture with the mouse, but use these gestures sparingly. If you don't need to gesture at something, take your hand off the mouse. You'd be surprised how many of us move the mouse around without realizing it or intending to.

Are there other "pointers" you've learned? If so, please share them in the comments.