The pandemic has changed how we communicate, making virtual presentations a daily part of our lives. We know how to do on-site presentations, but virtual presentations require a different skill set.
This blog article recaps the main arguments from a LinkedIn Live with Karin Reed (On-Camera Coach | Communication Expert) and Barbara Covarrubias Venegas (Founder #virtualspacehero) on how to rock your virtual presentation.
While speaking through a webcam might be new to much of the world, Karin has been teaching business professionals for nearly a decade. She focuses on how to be effective on-camera communicators. Karin translates her experience as an Emmy-award winning broadcast journalist into a successful methodology. She also uses her experience as an on-camera spokesperson. This methodology is based upon the MVPs of On-Camera Success™. She is quoted as a thought leader by Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, Business Insider, and Forbes.
Her most recent book, Suddenly Virtual: Making Remote Meetings Work, written with meeting scientist, Dr. Joseph Allen, was even featured by McKinsey & Co in their “Author Talks” series, showcasing the latest best-selling business books.
Connect with Karin on LinkedIn here.
🧠What does it mean to find the Right Mental Mindset On-Camera?
We all know that having the right mental mindset is crucial when holding a presentation, be it on-site or on-camera. No matter how many people are in your audience, they always feel like you are talking just to them. Viewing a presentation as a one-to-one conversation brings you closer to the audience.
The right mental mindset on-camera means…
➡️ Thinking about your audience as one person.
➡️Visualizing your viewer. Choosing a person that represents your audience will allow you to act more naturally on camera.
➡️Being aware that you reach your audience through your camera. In many ways, the camera in online meetings presents a portal to the people. Don’t forget to pull your focus and energy through the camera lens.
🤔What is Important When Thinking About Body Language?
When talking about body language in a virtual presentation, the best advice is to do what your frame size allows you to do.
Be aware that the way you frame yourself creates either closeness or distance between you and your conversation partner. Generally, the less your audience can see your body, the closer they will feel to you as a conversation partner. How close or far you are from the camera affects how much you can gesture. On a tight shot for example it can be distracting to have your hands in the frame all the time. However, if you are a hand talker, allow yourself to use your hands but try to keep them a bit lower.
If you are on a wider shot being framed from the waist up, you have more room to gesture as you have more space.
Consider the conversation space and align your gestures accordingly.
“Focus on your message and your body will follow.”
💥How Can You Keep Your Audience Engaged for More Than 7 Minutes?
We are conditioned to passively watch screens, but virtual meetings require active participation.
Let’s have a look at four practices for your virtual presentation that help you keep your audience engaged:
💡Engage your audience by making it do something
Engage your audience to prevent them from becoming passive observers. Put your audience at the centre of your content. Using phrases like “Imagine your last..” is a great strategy to make your audience think about what you say and make them stay engaged with the topic.
💡Don’t hide behind your slides
If you are using slides, make sure you don’t hide behind them as it diminishes the level of engagement that people have during a virtual presentation. That said, get savvy at being able to move in and out of sharing your screen. Even if a slide initially helps, it can become a resting spot for the audience’s eyes. Remove the slide to bring people’s attention back to the screen.
💡Ask people to turn on their camera
Ask people to turn on their cameras to make them more active participants. Furthermore, it makes them more accountable and focused on your virtual presentation.
💡Use the Chat Feature
Be aware that participation takes on different forms in the virtual space. If you are hosting a meeting in which people connect without a webcam, the chat function can be a great way to let participants add their input. As a host, weave in the chat in the verbal discussion and vocalise what others contribute in text form.
🪄3 Ways to Create a Webcam Setup for Your Virtual Presentation that Wows
✨Set up your webcam correctly
Allow yourself to sit high in the frame by positioning yourself in the middle and leaving equal space on both sides. For the three-finger test, take three fingers and stack them over your head. This is the amount of space you should have between the top of your head and the upper line of your frame. Finally, position your webcam in a way that it points straight back and is not showing the ceiling.
✨Illuminate yourself
Communication is a lot about reading each other’s facial expressions. Therefore, you must make it as easy as possible for your audience to read your face. A ring light can be a great tool to optimise your front lighting making sure your face gets illuminated evenly.
✨Optimise your audio
You won’t rock your virtual presentation if you are not heard properly by your audience. Investing in an external microphone allows your audio to be louder and clearer. An external microphone improves audio quality by blocking background noise and minimizing distractions.
Mastering virtual presentation skills is crucial for team leaders, members, and speakers.It enhances professionalism, communication, relationship-building, and adaptability, leading to career success.
A strong virtual presence instills confidence in team members and audiences, establishing credibility and professionalism. Presenting effectively shows expertise, knowledge, and commitment, enhancing trust and respect from others.
