I started my career with remote work, so when the pandemic hit, I quickly adapted. After all, I just had to accept that everyone besides me would also work from home.
But I was definitely curious about how my weekly Toastmasters’ public speaking meeting would go. None of us had ever conducted any public speaking meeting virtually – and wondered if it was doable.
But, it sure was not only doable but also allowed new experiences we never imagined in traditional setups, such as participants from all over the country and unique uses of tools such as virtual whiteboards and online polls.
Hence, when the rest of the BBR English team and I decided to shift the focus of our company to improving spoken English and public speaking of “Working Professionals”, doing it online didn’t seem difficult at all.
In this blog post, I would like to share 6 of my biggest learnings about delivering virtual presentations (or public speaking) – so that you can use them to deliver a memorable and engaging presentation.
The first one on this list is my most important recommendation. It is, sadly, also the one that gets ignored the most.
Be familiar with the software and equipment
For the love of god (any god you pray to and believe in) – please take note of the software you will use to attend the session and deliver your presentations.
Zoom is a fan favorite right now – all thanks to its easy-to-use interface and capability to host hundreds of people without compromising audio-video quality. But it is not the only software out there.
On a side note, if you are interested in an article exclusively about how to be a better speaker on Zoom – Click Here.
There are several alternatives – Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Google Duo, Jitsi, Cisco WebEx, etc. Heck, even Skype is still around and gets used.So just don’t assume it is Zoom unless you are the meeting host. Ask the meeting organizers.
But don’t just stop at asking. If you have never used the software, please give it a trial run. I can’t even imagine how many times I have seen speakers all prepared with speeches, trying to troubleshoot how to share the screen or take an audience poll.
Be Prepared. Learn how the screen share works, learn how mute-unmute works, learn how polling works – learn and rehearse so that you are comfortable with it during the meeting.
Let me share again what I consider to be my favorite quote in public speaking
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin
Besides that, make sure your own hardware is working. You have a distraction-free room available during meeting timings, your laptop/desktop camera is working right, and you have high-speed internet, a high-quality microphone, and a speaker ready. Nothing is more annoying than -”I am sorry your voice is not clear” or”I am sorry you dropped off in the middle, can you repeat”.
Make sure the preparations are solid from your end. You do this right, and you will improve your chances of a wonderful presentation exponentially.
Tried and Tested Setup
This is a continuation of the previous advice, but I think it does require its own mention.
Before every meeting, make sure your room set-up is optimized for the type of presentation you will give. Now most meetings can be informal – you can sit comfortably close to a device, screen share, and be done.
But, some occasions might require you to stand and deliver like it was the real stage. The most common example for me is my Toastmasters meeting. But you can be a CEO doing live streaming and unveiling a new product or service, or you might be invited as a virtual keynote speaker.
Sitting and delivering presentations simply don’t bring out energy. When you stand and speak, use the stage, full range of body movements, and the right props, it can make a very memorable presentation.
- Identify the comfortable distance from the camera so that your upper body above the legs is visible.
- Get yourself a collared mic. Wireless, in my opinion, is better than wired ones. You don’t risk tangling and falling during your speech.
- Identify the right amount of loudness you will use. Unlike real stages, virtual presentations will
- Also, make sure your room doesn’t echo, and there is no feedback. That gets annoying real quick and spoils the quality of the entire meeting.
Keep your slide deck ready
You might be using a slide deck, and it is surprisingly common in corporate settings; personally, I don’t recommend it, but I don’t get to make rules.So make sure your slide deck is ready. It should be
- Made according to the color, font, and graphics standard set by your company.
- Use minimal text. Even graphics should be big and cover a good portion of the screen. Don’t jam too many figures in one slide – it defeats the purpose of reducing text.
- Make sure the big takeaways are mentioned clearly – using a well-accepted font type and a large enough size that it is visually accessible to all. Don’t ignore accessibility in a virtual presentation. It’s important.
PS, if you are interested in our newsletter on “How to give a Killer Presentation” – Click Here. Also, if you want to read our exclusive case study on Steve Jobs and his presentation style – Click Here.
Rehearse the speech, obviously
Referring to the above quote on preparation, please don’t forget to rehearse your speech. Some people believe that their preparation is done once their slide deck is ready. That’s very far away from the truth.The pacing of your presentation is very important. This is the biggest mistake people make, in my opinion. When they come without preparation, they either spend too much time on a few slides or rush through the entire presentation. And both are respectful of your audience’s time and attention.
- If you take too long, then you are disrespecting people’s time.
- If you are rushing too early, then you are disrespecting people’s attention – which is a precious commodity in today’s world.
So rigorously time your presentation after taking feedback from friends, family, and co-workers that your presentation is finishing in time at a reasonable speed (130 words per minute).
A common scenario in stand-up virtual presentations can be that speaker is simply too far away from the hardware to move slides along. In this case, there is a co-presenter who moves the slides. If this is happening, ensure you practice along with your co-presenter so that you are in sync and the delivery is smooth.
The Background and Foreground
This one is so simple and so neglected. As we say in public speaking, your speech starts before your utter a single word.How you are dressed, how you enter the stage, and what kind of body language and facial expressions you have. All of that speaks for you before your words do. And, yes, as the cliche goes – First Impressions Matters Most.
So once you are live and with your camera open, make sure that your background is well-lit, there are no distracting objects, it is neat and tidy, and generally gives a good, positive vibe.In case you are using a virtual background, make sure it is appropriate for the context and best if it is a template created or approved by your company.You can be creative with virtual backgrounds but don’t be too adventurous. It can make up for a bad impression.
For the foreground, there is only one piece of advice. Make sure there is nothing between you and the camera. Everything is a distraction. Just keep it clean. Nothing else is required.
In conclusion, public speaking in the digital world is a skill that can be learned and perfected with practice.If you follow the above advice, I believe you will have a much easier time in your next virtual presentation. Some of the above ideas (background/foreground, tested set-up) are a one-time investment. Others are easy to implement if you develop a habit around them.
As always, public speaking is a performance, and it is meant to be intentional. Don’t leave things to chance.Remember, with every presentation, your goal is to persuade the audience about something – a business use case, a social cause, or an election manifesto.You might have plenty of experience in the real world, but with dedication and perseverance, you can succeed in this new era of digital communication.
My best wishes to you for your next speech!
