Teams, Zoom and video calls are the new normal for us but while they can be a great and convenient way to communicate, lots of people are still not making the most of them.
Whether you’re taking part in 1:1s, small group meetings or webinars with large audiences, there are a number of things you can do to make sure your video calls are effective. Our communication trainers have put together these top tips for presenting by video conference to make sure you are performing at your best.
Tips For Presenting Via Video Conference
- Lighting; ideally you should be front lit (i.e. facing towards a light or window), not back lit
- Noise; use a quiet room so there aren’t external sounds competing with you. Mute any unnecessary pop-ups or notifications on your laptop too
- Consider using headphones, a separate mic and light attachments – these can make a big difference compared to a laptop’s built in tech
- Try the connection and platform software in advance, do you know where all the functions are and are they set-up correctly
- Check for any software updates and install them in advance
- Run a test, record yourself and check that you will be seen and heard clearly
- Plan your content and messages carefully and consider what tricky questions you could be asked
- Rehearse; if it’s a presentation or pitch you’ll develop confidence by practicing in advance
Handling The Video Conference In The Meeting
- Dial in early, make sure you are set-up and ready ahead of time
- Keep an eye on participants waiting to join – for a big audience event try to have a colleague on the call to handle the tech or administration, so you can focus on your performance
- Set the scene; explain the format/agenda, what to do in case of tech issues and if there’s an opportunity for questions (plus whether you’ll take them during or after and how they should be asked/submitted). Make sure people know the finish time and if there are any breaks
- Eye-line; remember to look at the camera lens (usually at the top of the screen), not at the images/people on your screen. Raise your laptop so the camera lens is level with your eye-line
- Mics; asking people who aren’t speaking to mute their mic will help to minimise background noise
- Clarity; make sure you are communicating clearly – an audience wants clear and concise messages, memorable examples and stories that they can remember. This will help to keep their focus
- Voice; think about your pitch, tone, pace and volume levels – these can all be used to add impact and help to keep the participants engaged
- Body-language; be careful not to move around too much but use positive soft skills and a good posture, slouching or crossing your arms gives off a bad impression and can negatively impact your breathing control
- Energy; add a little extra energy into your performance and you’ll find that audiences will engage more
- Smile; show enthusiasm, passion and warmth to your audience (do this where appropriate e.g. show empathy if you’re delivering bad news)
- Attention levels; help keep peoples’ focus by mixing up the format – can you use video, slides or add in other speakers to vary the content for the audience
After the meeting:
- Follow up; were there actions that you or others needed to put in place? Make sure everyone knows what they need to do next
- If you have a recording or transcript of the call, make sure these are available to anyone that needs them
- Get feedback and develop; ask your audience how the video conference or event went – particularly if it was a presentation or panel/webinar. Think about how you can improve your performance
If you would like more help and guidance for presenting by video conference or you have a team who may benefit from this training, we offer a range of Presentation Training courses which are tailored around you and the specific meetings or engagements you’ll take part in.
If you have any questions, or would like to find out more about our presentation training courses get in touch.
