Virtual public speaking can be challenging, especially if you are not used to communicating online. However, with some preparation and practice, you can overcome the common pitfalls and deliver engaging and effective presentations. Here are some tips to help you master virtual public speaking.
Before you start planning your speech, you need to understand who you are talking to and what they expect from you. Research your audience's background, interests, goals, and challenges. This will help you tailor your message, tone, and style to their needs and preferences. You can also use surveys, polls, or questions to get feedback and insights from your audience before or during your presentation.
There are many options for delivering virtual presentations, such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, or Webex. Each platform has its own features, advantages, and limitations. You should choose the one that suits your purpose, audience, and budget. You should also familiarize yourself with the platform's functions, such as screen sharing, chat, mute, and record. Test your equipment, internet connection, and sound quality before you go live.
Your slides are an important part of your virtual presentation. They should complement your speech, not distract from it. Use simple, clear, and consistent fonts, colors, and layouts. Avoid overcrowding your slides with too much text, images, or animations. Use bullet points, charts, graphs, or diagrams to illustrate your main points. Make sure your slides are visible and readable on different devices and screen sizes.
One of the biggest challenges of virtual public speaking is keeping your audience's attention and interest. You need to interact with them and make them feel involved and valued. You can use various techniques to engage your audience, such as storytelling, humor, anecdotes, questions, polls, quizzes, or games. You can also use gestures, facial expressions, and voice modulation to convey your emotions and enthusiasm.
Time management is crucial for virtual public speaking. You need to respect your audience's schedule and attention span. You should plan your presentation according to the allotted time and stick to it. You should also allocate some time for introduction, conclusion, and Q&A. You can use a timer, a clock, or a cue card to keep track of your progress and pace. If you run out of time, you can skip or summarize some parts of your speech.
I always advise the moderator or director to directly ping me when I'm running low on time so I have a good stopping place. If I feel as though I'm going over time, I'll jump to the most important part or let the audience know they can contact me afterwards with more questions.
The best way to master virtual public speaking is to practice and improve. You should rehearse your presentation several times before you deliver it. You can practice alone, with a friend, or with a coach. You can also record yourself and watch it later to identify your strengths and weaknesses. You should seek feedback from your audience, peers, or mentors and use it to improve your skills and confidence.
In my experience I like to record myself so that I can review and see my high points and adjust the low points of my presentations. Getting caught up in the low points can be self-defeating by focusing on the negative. It's a good idea when feeling more confident to run it by with a friend who can provide constructive feedback.
Don't let your structure take the place of your flow. A presentation is just an alternative form of conversation, so we must consider what makes conversation fun and engaging if we want the same outcome for a presentation. Conversation is a journey that two or more participants undertake together. It's creative; it's fun; it's the definition of spontaneous, and the personalities of the people involved are what make it so great. So, while structure and process are important to guide your presentation toward a desired outcome, don't let them get in the way of your most valuable asset; You. Let your structure serve as a supplement to your flow, not a shackle. Be creative and fun, and let your personality shine!