Presence Training

Thanks to the global Covid pandemic, more and more people have found the need to adapt to virtual meetings, instead of attending in-person. Lockdowns have created an environment for working from home and people need to adapt to it. Business communications now resort to video conferencing and online presentations. 

If you find yourself in a struggle with this, you are not alone. Many people find it more difficult to present online and communicate via virtual means. Virtual communication may be convenient, but it is also lacking in relaying human emotion. There is not always a way to tell if you are on the right track with your audience, because you may not even see them. So how do you gain some confidence in online meetings? Here are a few proven tips: 

Always look the part
When you look confident, you also feel confident. When you have to do an important virtual meeting, you should always dress in clothes that make you feel good. You should not go casual and you should stick with neutral colours because bright prints are a bit distracting. And while the idea of not wearing pants has been floating around, since others don’t see you from the waist down, you best not consider it at all. Sometimes you will need to stand up and grab some documents, so avoid wearing your pyjamas. 

Positioning matters
If you wish to feel more executive with your presence, you need to take up more space, figuratively and literally. If you sit far too away from your camera, you will look small, which is an immediate telltale sign that you are feeling nervous. It is best to set up your camera in such a way that makes the entire area from your upper chest visible. 

Connecting with people
Just because you are communicating via a digital medium with your audience doesn’t mean you cannot connect with them. Keep the camera at eye level so that you connect with the others. It would be a mistake to place the camera too low, as it would seem you are talking down on people, or too high because then you diminish your presence. Strong eye contact with the audience is the best form of connection you should achieve, and you don’t want to waste it. 

Be mindful of your background
A large part of the software used in digital conferences, like Zoom, has interesting background features. You have to be mindful of going too wild with the backgrounds because it can be a distraction to your viewers. If the meeting is an important one, you should locate yourself in a neutral room, with a neutral background. You don’t need to display an empty wall, but certainly, avoid a panorama of your messy kitchen or dining area. 

Use your strong voice
Using a strong voice and being more mindful of inflexion is all it takes to make you feel more relaxed. These are both tips that you need to be mindful of when you are talking in person as well. People are more focused when someone is talking to them in a stronger voice. And because people’s attention wavers during a conversation online, you should make sure you have good audio. 

Be more aware of your body
If you allow the lack of confidence to leak through your posture, you will lose your audience. Hunching over or slouching during your video calls can make everyone feel less secure. You can use some mindfulness techniques to become more comfortable with yourself and sit with ease in front of the camera. One good exercise is trying to imagine a piece of string attached to the ceiling and pulling your head up.  

All of these tips work well to make you more prepared to do a virtual presentation or a video conference with confidence. 

© Presence Training