The way you present over a digital platform varies significantly compared to physical presentations. You encounter differences like the lack of body language, physical presence, location disturbances, engagement, etc. These issues affect both your and the listeners’ experience.
Your command through non-verbal communication, reading the room, etc., gets compromised over a video call. You use your face or upper body and voice to capture attention, which has its challenges as the audience is remotely located. Video conference training helps you in this aspect professionally. Meanwhile, a little preparation also goes a long way:
Work on the visuals: Digital presentations often replace your face with slides when they are the focus. Therefore, it is essential to make them look the best. Using graphs, charts, maps, illustrations, etc., makes complex data easy to understand. Make sure to use minimalistic styling not to confuse the viewers. Fewer bullet points with attention to details like using a bold and readable font are the best way to go.
Voice is the key: The biggest challenge in presenting through video conference is connecting with listeners. The only thing that shines in these sessions is your voice. Use voice modulation, pauses, punctuation, excitement to express your points. This enables you to grab the listeners’ attention. You learn these techniques in presentation skills training.
Make eye contact: It is a well-known fact that making eye contact allows engagement. However, it is simpler in physical presentations as compared to virtual. It is easy to get distracted during video conferencing. You tend to look at your reflection or the faces of the participants on the screen. You avoid this by directly looking at the camera lens.
Use the chat feature: Technical issues are a norm in virtual presentations. It causes hindrance in two-way communication. To overcome this, you can encourage your listeners to use the chat option to inform them about disruptions. They can also use this feature to express their questions and feedback in real-time. This way, you know you are on the same page with them throughout.
Start early and check equipment: Video conference gets complex when it comes to setting up. Things like microphone settings, background adjustment, plugging in cables, stable internet connection, camera angles, etc., require time. Hence, you should start at least fifteen minutes before the designated time to fix everything. This way, you ensure punctuality and also detect any technical issues that might occur.
Fix background distractions: This is applicable, especially if you are presenting from your home or unfamiliar area. You are bound to have disturbances like noise, other people, background clutter, etc. It is best to take care of them by finding a quiet room and having a plain wall as your backdrop. If you cannot find a decent one, use a virtual background that looks professional.
