The Arena Newsletter: Issue 31

The Arena Newsletter

Issue 31 | September 17, 2020

Practice makes perfect.

Virtual meetings have become the new worldwide standard, replacing traditional in-person events with a new version of face-to-face communications. To enrich your experience in virtual meetings, please consider the following tips.

Participating in a Virtual Event

Attire: Create a positive and professional on-camera impression by dressing as you would when going to the office or attending an in-person event.

Location: Choose a quiet, secluded, indoor area whenever possible.

Lighting: Natural lighting is the best: To avoid being backlit, face a window rather than having it behind you. If you are using a lamp or a ring light, angle it slightly to the side.

Noise: Mute your microphone when listening and unmute it when speaking; headphones can help block out ambient noises.

Camera: Position the camera head-on at eye level about two feet away from you and at an angle for making eye contact.

Engagement: Stay wholly present in the meeting and resist the urge to multitask. Demonstrate active listening with non-verbal communication, such as nodding your head, smiling, or giving a thumbs up.

Speaking at a Virtual Event

Speaking: When presenting on camera, speak conversationally.

Engagement: Incorporate attention-grabbing slides, surveys, and polls into your presentation to keep your audience informed, interested, and engaged.

Gestures: Using natural hand gestures and changing your facial expressions while speaking communicates the energy and enthusiasm you have for your subject matter.

Vocal Delivery: The way you project and modulate your voice adds as much value as to the speech as the actual content. The main components of vocal delivery are:
Breathing
Pace/Tempo
Volume
Tone
Inflection
Pausing

Body Language: Sit or stand tall with your head and eyes up, smile sincerely and warmly, and change your facial expressions to help indicate the confidence you have in yourself and your subject matter.

Reading the Room: Regularly observe the demeanor of your audience for signs of non-verbal confirmation such as eye contact, head nods, and thumbs up.

Q & A Skills: Utilize the SET format - Lead with a short answer to the question, follow up with no more than three examples of evidence to support your answer, and then transition by summarizing your answer and directing the conversation to a new question.

Ending Strong: After the main body of your presentation is complete, conclude with a concise, clear summary and call to action.

Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.

Prepare and practice, but if something does not go as planned, stay calm, poised, and professional. Take the next best step, problem-solve, and proceed. Above all, keep your wits and sense of humor about you.

Enjoy!