I’ve updated my popular Virtual Presentation Skills for Attorneys for the Tennessee Bar Association. The workshop covers actionable techniques for virtual, hybrid and in-person presentations. Click on the link for details, reviews and the link to the 60-minute, on-demand workshop.
The Rule of Thirds
Wish you looked better on Zoom? Remember the Rule of Thirds. You want your eyes to be close to the Top Third of the screen. Your shoulders are visible in the frame and there’s a little space above your head, similar to the stock photos below. The most common mistake I see is when people have the tiniest bit of their shoulders showing on the screen, and lots of empty space above their heads. Last week, when I prepped a client for a media interview, we noticed that he looked best when the logo on his casual shirt was showing on the screen. When I couldn't see the logo, his position on the screen wasn't ideal. While I've seen a few exemptions to the Rule of Thirds (people who have really interesting or unusual backgrounds), it applies to most of us for virtual meetings.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
What I've Learned From Working with 1,000 Professionals on Virtual Presentation Skills in a Pandemic
Here are the tips and videos for virtual meetings that were rated the best by my clients in 2020. Click for the news release on PRNewswire.
Move Beyond "Meeting on a Screen"
I’m getting a lot of questions in my workshops about how to use technology tools to move beyond a “meeting on a screen.” An easy way to get started is to use the virtual White Board to take notes and collect ideas from the group in virtual meetings. On Zoom (WebEx is similar), click “Share Screen,” then click on the White Board icon on your desktop (you’ll see it right away), and finally click “Share.” Once you see the White Board on the screen, click “text” to type words and “draw” for drawing. Use the “annotate” function to allow others in the virtual meeting to write and draw. Note: White Board is available on the free version of Zoom, but you may need to enable it in your Zoom settings.
Capture the Attention of Your Virtual Audience with a Poll
Polling is one of the many tech tools you can use to improve interaction in virtual meetings. Read the latest Talking Tech column in USA Today or listen to the 5-minute podcast for my tips for virtual presentations and much more. Bonus Tip: You can use polls in the paid version of Zoom — scroll to the bottom of the page when you schedule your meeting and click on “Add Poll.” Polling is also available in WebEx and Microsoft Teams.
Are People Talking Over Each Other in Your Virtual Meetings?
A common challenge with virtual meetings is that people don’t know when to speak. The resul is either silence or several people talking at the same time. Good facilitation is critical for anyone who leads a virtual meeting. Watch the video to learn more.
Include Embedded Videos in Your Virtual Meetings
I’ve gone back to my experience as a TV news reporter to add video to virtual meetings. A 20-60 second video clip is easy to embed in a virtual presentation. Video clips energize your audience and demonstrate something you can’t show on a standard slide. For example, I use 30-second clips from actual TV news interviews in my virtual media training workshop. And recently, I worked with Beyond the Box Productions to record a brief video tour of a client’s offices to play during a virtual meeting, since the office is currently closed to visitors. Here are 3 tips for embedded videos:
Less is more. I prefer 30-60 second video clips.
Check your audio level in advance. Your audience needs to hear as well as see the video. (On a related note, an external microphone makes a significant difference in virtual meetings. Here’s an article with advice for choosing a microphone.
Introduce your video in a purposeful manner, i.e. “The video will give you an inside look at our day-to-day operations.”
You're On Camera
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.
Could Your Virtual Meetings Be Shorter?
Start strong, end strong. Watch the video for tips on these critical elements of a virtual meeting or presentation.
In the News
Read Mimi’s article about speaking on virtual meetings in The Tennessean / USA Today Network and Mimi’s interview with StyleBlueprint for tips to look your best in virtual meetings. Listen to my interview on the Lipstick Economy Podcast for more about remote work and virtual job interviews. And checkout book recommendations in the wonderful blog Bacon on the Bookshelf.
How to Position Your Video Camera for Virtual Meetings
We’re all adjusting to virtual meetings and communicating remotely. Here’s my advice for how to adjust your computer so that you look and sound professional on video (I recorded this video with Rodney King of Beyond the Box Productions on my porch with social distancing, but before Nashville adopted Safer at Home).
Use Your Smartphone to be a Better Speaker
Your smartphone can make a difference with your next business presentation. Watch the video to learn how easily you can turn your phone into a presentation tool.
Why “We’re Excited” is the Sugared Cereal of Filler Words
When we begin a business presentation with “We’re excited to announce…” or “I’m excited about,” our intentions are good. We want to send a positive message. The downside is that opening a presentation with “excited” is like serving empty calories for breakfast. “We’re excited” is an overused phrase that fails to provide value or stick with your audience. All sugar, no substance. Like sugary breakfast cereal, “We’re excited” is fine to use occasionally, but not as a standard opening.
I recommend that you begin with more substance. Focus on the value that you provide to the audience. For example, “Our customers asked for shorter turnaround times, so we’re launching X to get products to customers faster.” Or “We’re seeing a shift in consumer demand for Y." Changing our habits takes intentional effort.
I try to be aware of how often I say “excited” and “great.” When I hear these words repeatedly in my own presentations, I ask myself “WHY is this ‘great’?” or “What's a specific example to support ‘excited’?” I replace fillers with meaningful content.
Opening a presentation with a meaningful phrase is like a good breakfast. It sticks with our audience, so they can remember and repeat what we said.
