Hand Signals

• Silent Cheer: Hold up your arms and wiggle your fingers in the air.
• Frame: Draw a box with your hands. Where does this fit in? Why are we talking about this? Give me some background or context.
• Focus / Get to the Point: Move your hands back in forth bringing them together in a ‘V’ shape. Get back to the point. Use this signal when speakers are rambling.
• Circle: Wave your finger around in a circle over your head. We’re going in circles! This has already been said.
• Let’s get on with it: Roll your hands, so as to say, “come on, come on. . .” Let’s get on with the agenda. This can be discussed later in a smaller group or committee. (Though be respectful as some people take longer to express themselves.)
• Time: The traditional two-hand ‘T’. Yer OUT!
• Energy Check / Frustration Check: The facilitator can call for these to measure how group members feel (i.e. good, bad, or ugly — I mean OK). People can hold their hands out high, at waist level, or down on the floor.
• Point of Information or Order: Extend your arm straight horizontally, with a finger pointing outward. Use this signal to correct a false statement (“We only have $150 in our budget, not $250!”), provide a useful piece of information (“The trustees are meeting on March 17, maybe we could protest then!”), or to ask a process related question (“Is anyone writing this down?”). Use this only to make short statements or questions. They must be important enough to break the regular order of speakers.
• Jargon: Throw up your hands with palms upside down. “I don’t know what the heck you’re talking about!” Use this signal for acronyms or when people refer to things you haven’t heard of.
• Bull Shit: Fold your arms, laying one on the top of the other. Have the hand of the arm on top stretch out two fingers (bull horns). Have the second hand (on bottom), make an opening-closing motion. This signal should be used in good humor and never as an attack on someone.