I’m seeing a shift away from “Let’s reschedule our event for later in the year” to “Let’s figure out a virtual event that engages people in a meaningful way.” Good virtual events require concise content, intentional interaction, smooth technology, and speakers/facilitators who are comfortable speaking to a video camera.
When I lead interactive workshops on virtual speaking, I encourage people to get out-of-their-comfort zones and talk to the camera, not the people on their screen. While it feels awkward at first, it’s much more effective way to engage people online. The reason? When you look at the people on your screen, you’re looking down or away. When you look at the camera, you’re looking directly at your audience.
