Bill Clinton has always had a reputation for being a strong public speaker. However, when he was Governor of Arkansas he developed a bad habit where he would repeatedly point at his audience with the index finger of his right hand whilst speaking. Now, as your Mother always told you, it's very rude to point - in fact most cultures have at least one single-hand gesture which is considered offensive. So,when Bill kicked off his presidential campaign his staff new they had to put the kaibash on the future president's favorite nervous tick without throwing off his popular cadence.
The solution? They taught him to curl the offending pointer inwards, and clamp it down with his thumb. This way he was free to gesture towards his audience, sans offensive finger pointing. The aesthetic end result is the now famous Clinton "thumb point" - to see it for yourself view any of his speeches since he left the Governor's mansion. I particularly enjoy the, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" performance.
Body language represents 55%-65% of all communication - so what you say with your hands matters as much, if not more than what you say with your voice. For this reason superfluous gestures will detract measurably from your ability to deliver your message.
Use your hands to accentuate your performance with solid, intentional motions and emphasize main points with deliberate gestures. If using your hands to represent something related to your content remember, you have two hands - hence you can represent two somethings. More than that, and you start to lose the audience. New movements can be uncomfortable at first, practice your gestures when you reherse your perfromance so they are comfortable to you. And if you don't have something for your hands to say - have them say nothing.
Stage actors will typically keep their arms at their sides when their hands are not in use - it is a natural and relaxed position which does not distract the audience.
THE POINT: Your hands are the only prop you will never leave in the car - use them wisely.
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