Mastering virtual presentations: a practical guide
Andrzej Butra
At work, we will primarily remember the first half of 2020 as the leap from the "real" world to the virtual one. The coronavirus caused a significant portion of business and interactions to be conducted through various online tools and applications. During this time, the HR Trainers Team conducted training sessions on presenting during remote meetings and presentations. We also had the opportunity to observe meetings, and therefore I would like to share a few tips to keep in mind when preparing to lead such events.
Remember: The better we prepare, the better the result we will achieve...
One thing that is often forgotten is ensuring proper lighting for the face. Sometimes we see a dark figure or half a face illuminated on the screen. To prevent this, make sure the light source is not behind you or only on one side of your face. For important meetings, it is beneficial to use a ring light, which illuminates the face evenly. As a last resort, you can use two lamps, placed on the left and right sides. Sometimes it's even worth powdering your nose and forehead to avoid looking too "shiny" when the lighting is intense.
Remember to use a reliable conferencing tool. If you are going to give a presentation, it is essential to simplify it according to the "less is more" principle. If there is going to be a lot happening during the meeting, it is worth appointing or involving a facilitator or assistant so that the presenter can focus on the presentation they are leading. The co-host will then handle technical issues or questions in the chat. It is very important for the person leading the meeting to join it ahead of time. They need to welcome guests, and participants should not wait too long in the waiting room. It is unacceptable for the host or hosts to be late. It's a good idea to let people into the meeting 10 minutes before the official start time, as many people check their connection quality. This is important if we don't want someone "fighting with technology" once we begin.
When starting the meeting, a warm-up, or a little "small talk," is also advisable. And one last piece of advice: it's good to check if participants have used the conferencing tool before, as it may be necessary to conduct a quick training so that everyone feels confident. Ensuring the comfort of participants is one of the most important tasks of the person leading the meeting, in addition to the substantive issues, of course.
Successful speeches and presentations!
Let's stay in touch!
If you are interested in training, coaching,
or mentoring, please contact me to find out
how I can assist you.
Find me
on LinkedIn
Strona www stworzona w kreatorze WebWave.