Here's how you can enhance your skills in delivering presentations remotely or virtually.

1) In case of a large audience and/or if it is a recorded session used for subsequent training purposes, it may worth to have a dry-run (with panelists, if applicable) 2) Recommended to manage participant list a chatbox on a separate screen 3) If the platform allows (for instance Webex), use the show presenter in top of the presentation feature.

Test all your technology and make sure everything works. Have backups for everything. In addition to visually appealing slides, engage them with interactive tools like polls or breakout rooms. Stand up. Don't sit in a chair. Stand up so you can move more freely and naturally. Have a professional looking background and good lighting. These are absolutely mandatory. Anticipate problems that could arise and plan for them.

I always say, even if it is a virtual presentation, use PowerPoint or Prezi. I also recommend using the chat features during your presentations to enhance engagement and dialogue.

Focus on enhancing the story and impact. Identify your beginning, hook, climax, and resolution. Limit your slide content to that which adds to your narrative and draws the listener in rather than giving away your story with too many words on the page. People want to be able to connect with you, the speaker, and the temptation to read words off the slide will detract from that. Lastly, provide chances for personal connections to the narrative, whether by asking questions that make the listener draw parallels to their own experience, or providing real world examples to help make sense of the problem in context.

1) Camera on is a must 2) Some platform (for instance WebEx) allows presenter to be shown on top of the content in a small window, my experience with this feature was positive based on audience feedback; they do not need to switch between content a presenter windows 3) My take is one aptly selected picture with text, where key messages are firmly but modestly highlighted

1) Some may disagree, but in my opinion, delivering a good presentation requires sometimes to 'act-out' certain elements, especially if sometiomething is delivered the 30th-40th etc. times 2) Changing tone and pace is critical, before 'punch-lines' and anticipated 'aha-moments'

Always get the audience to answer questions or be involved, if in person get the one person who isn't engaged on their feet writing on a white board :)

1) Regional specific considerations to be made regarding expectedness of speak-up (Eastern Europe vs Western Europe, native English speakers vs non-native English speakers etc) 2) Pick random silent attendees and call them out for their opinion 3) If volume makes it feasible, try to address/comment on every single chat contribution

Love the cues mentioned here, simple and effective. By being virtual, the more you can use the attendee names, helps create the human to human connection.

1) Share in advance with audience, if you are using two or multiple screens, that when you look away from camera, it does not mean you ignore them 2) Aptly selected personal stories ("I have been in your boots, when...") are usually the most powerful ones

I really like to tell the planned large-scale presentations in three sessions - if it is possible. In the first screening, you understand the areas that need to be polished, therefore, it is preferable to find the most appealing audience for the first screening, of course, if it is physically possible. It is very good if it is possible to repeat the presentation first to a PILOT group, whether they are colleagues, or neighbors, or friends. They will ask questions that you could not even imagine, and you will be able to prepare answers for the real audience.