We are all doing a lot of Zoom meetings, but are we doing them well? Here are some tips:

During these difficult times, if you have been fortunate enough to stay healthy, you have still encountered many stresses to your personal and professional life. Even after things begin to resemble “normal,” undoubtedly, there will be some long-term changes. Besides avoiding handshakes, washing hands frequently, and using masks, we will also continue to have many meetings held virtually.

Working as a public speaking coach, I had always thought I did my best work in person. Since the coronavirus, all of my work has been over Zoom, and I’ve been delighted to realize virtual sessions can work quite well! But just as with speaking in person, there is an art and craft to effective virtual communication. How can you be at your best while communicating virtually? Here are some tips:

1. Have fun! Communicate that you are happy to be there with your listeners. Now more than ever, people need to feel a sense of connection. Smile a genuine smile. Let your eyes sparkle. People will remember how you made them feel long after the meeting ends. If you approach the meeting with uplifting energy, it will be contagious—in a good way!

• Think of the camera as the eyes of your viewers. Look them in the eyes—but not always. In everyday conversations, we touch base with people, then look away. You want to mirror that during a virtual call to create a natural connection. Most people when speaking on a Zoom call, look at the people on the screen. But when you do that, it looks like you are looking down, and being evasive. To remind myself where to look, I put a little sticky note by the camera on my computer that says, “Look here!” Then I let myself speak as I would during an in-person meeting. 

• Be clear and concise. Most people take too long to get to the point. Rambling rarely works, but when speaking virtually, it’s even more problematic. Make a couple notes about the points you want to make before the meeting. Don’t write it out word for word, just create an outline. Answer the questions, “Why would they care?” and “How specifically do they benefit from my ideas?” Relay that message concisely at the very beginning of the meeting. Summarize it at the end.

• Be aware of lighting—make sure the light is in front of you, rather than behind. Soft, diffused lighting is better than harsh, direct lights that make deep shadows. You want people to easily see your face. You will capture their attention more easily.

• Keep your background clean and clear. Let the focus be on you. Avoid a background with windows or bright lights.

• Frame yourself well. The top of your head should be near the top of the picture. It makes you appear more confident and balanced. If you are using a laptop, avoid creating a double chin or showing the inside of your nostrils by placing your laptop on a stack of books. This will enable you to be at eye level, a more flattering view.

• Be present. Listen to them. People are thirsty for good communication. If you make them feel heard and appreciated, it will make their day.

We will get through this time. It might take a while, and there will be changes, but perhaps some of those changes will be for the better. Maybe some of these changes will help us better appreciate our need to connect with each other. We can learn to master those skills both in person and virtually.

Questions about coaching or training? Schedule a complimentary 15-min Zoom call to see how we can create a program that is a perfect fit for you, or send a message if you have any questions.

Do you wish you were a more dynamic and compelling speaker?

Do you want to know how to effectively engage your audience?

In this article I identify 4 elements that enable you be at your best when speaking.

The four elements are:
Passionate, Analytical, Confiding and Extemporaneous or P.A.C.E.™

The Passionate Speaker

Passionate speakers exude energy and a contagious enthusiasm. Passion is the fuel. If we don’t care about our message, it’s a sure bet that nobody else will.

Often, people care about their message, but are reluctant to show much passion in their presentations. In everyday life when we are excited about something, we show it, we communicate it, and influence others. It makes sense then, during a presentation when your objective is to motivate or persuade others, to allow yourself to get passionate!

If you are fearful that you will look foolish, remember audiences do not like boring speakers. So go for it. Allow your voice to get loud. Move through space. Feel strongly about your subject. Both you and your audience will enjoy the benefits.

As important as it is, passion just for the sake of passion gets tiresome. It’s a wonderful flavor, but we don’t always want hot chili peppers.

The Analytical Speaker

The purpose of this element is to establish credibility and expertise. You accomplish this when you relay information in a clear, concise manner. Content level is high with facts and data. For your left-brain audience members, this is essential.

To develop your Analytical side, question your beliefs. How can you support those beliefs with data and examples? There is little body movement in the Analytical style and the voice has little modulation.

The Analytical element is necessary for establishing credibility, but if used too much, presentations will become boring. Many people think that business presentations are “supposed” to be analytical. But if your audience is not listening, your speech has no impact.

When eyes start to glaze over, become passionate! As long as you shift gears, you will get the audience back.

The Confiding Speaker

When we confide with someone, we bring them in as our trusted advisor. We develop rapport. To create a stronger connection with your audience, explore the confiding style.

The Confiding speaker talks slowly, and quietly, with good eye contact. Emotion is bubbling right under the surface. Share aspects from your life experiences with stories that overlap with their stories. There is great strength in being “at home” in front of an audience. We can be vulnerable without becoming weak.

Strength and passion motivate others, but the key to an effective presenter is flexibility in your behavior. You can be loud, and you can also be soft. Rather than always persuading or motivating, let the audience come to you.

Too much emphasis placed on the Confiding style will make your speech self-indulgent. Just the right amount makes the audience a true supporter. You have brought them into the role of a confidant, and they feel honored.

The Extemporaneous Speaker

Finally, the Extemporaneous Speaker. The purpose of this element is to keep your presentations fresh. It requires you to be available and responsive to impulses. Humor happens in the moment. Often the funniest, most pertinent times happen when we are improvising with our audience.

When you speak extemporaneously, your voice has a lot of variety. Your body emphasizes points with gestures and facial expressions. Your mood is light and readily responds to audience reactions.

Many people are scared to be spontaneous during a speech. But if you hold on to the reins too tightly, you squelch the life out of your speech. Even if much of your presentation is planned, allow for some moments of spontaneity, and you will develop a deeper connection to your audience.

How do you become more extemporaneous? Take a deep breath and relax. It’s impossible to be extemporaneous if you are tense. Notice yourself in everyday interactions when you give a quick, witty response. Recognize that you have that capability within you. Take an Improvisation or Stand-up Comedy class to build your “spontaneity” muscle.

Though it is vital to be extemporaneous, if you spend too much time there, your presentation will lack a clear sense of direction.

Weaving the Elements Together

By interweaving all four elements of the P.A.C.E.™ model: Passionate, Analytical, Confiding and Extemporaneous, you will be able to engage your audience intellectually and emotionally.

Flexibility is key. When you have the skill to shift your style according to what the situation calls for, you can engage your audience and have much more impact.

I’m a big fan of the singing competition show “The Voice.” I love to witness people striving to be their best, and I love watching coaches help them grow. All of the contestants on the show are incredible singers, but there is one person, Judith Hill, that is in a league of her own. Every week I look forward to her performance and every week she nails it. Besides being an amazing singer, she exudes charisma and stage presence.

Here are some things I have noticed that set her apart. (This can be applied to anytime you are in front of a group–you don’t have to be singing.)

1. Judith is 100% committed and focused to every second of her performance. Every pore of her says that there is no place she would rather be, than singing for all of us.

2. She  plays with phrases. She’s often unpredictable in her timing. She keeps us on our toes as we listen to her. She takes her time and enjoys the pause. In one song, an extended pause was the most memorable moment of the song.

3. She’s comfortable in her body and she knows without a shadow of a doubt she belongs on that stage. She’s obviously having the time of her life. When she enjoys herself, it makes the audience feel good.

The next time you have to present in front of a group, take some lessons from Judith Hill. Be committed to every moment of your talk. Play with your timing and enjoy the pause. Know that you belong on the stage, and most of all, enjoy yourself. Incorporate these lessons, and watch yourself transform to a captivating speaker!