2022 Public Speaking Online. Challenges. Self development. Tips

Public Speaking 2020-2021 – what has changed?

Despite opposing views, the number of opportunities to speak in public have not diminished, on the contrary they have even increased! The scene has changed! Each of us is accustomed to mentally operate with the "scene" projected in our mind. For some it is a meeting room with people around, for others it is a classic scene with a large audience, for others it can be a TV studio ... But the pandemic has changed the rules of the game – today in the remote work context, the scene can be anywhere! Nowadays you have the opportunity to verbalize your ideas on various platforms, to access local or international audiences, to express yourself from the comfort of your home office or from any place where you have an internet connection and decent sound.

Deprived of face-to-face contact with employees, companies have tried to compensate with even more abundant communication through all other online channels. The number of opportunities to make business presentations on a larger scale within companies with a global footprint has increased, event organizers have also quickly ?repositioned by organizing online discussion panels and conferences, and the personal initiatives of podcasting professionals or other forms of public speaking online have multiplied.

Technologically, the multitude of tools embedded in video conferencing platforms that allow us to interact with the audience during conferences, through polls, chats or quizzes, or to assess the feedback of the participants at the end of the event - has increased. Nowadays, after two years of pandemic, any digital immigrant is dealing a little easier with the tools that allow us to perform public speaking online.

Public speaking online 2022 – new challenges!

1.??????The attention level of the participants in online conferences/events is decreasing - as a measure of self-protection of the brain against the avalanche of information. Nature has not designed us to deal with this volume and this way of communicating.

Not a few have noticed that their work schedule has expanded in the pandemic, that the number of video conferences/ day is far higher than before the pandemic , that the communication in the organizations is excessive and not necessarily more effective.

2.??????There is an increase in the number of employees engaged as spectators in online presentations or conferences who prefer to keep their video cameras turned off as a silent protest or as a way of protecting themselves against a type of work that they less resonate with. Moreover, a study conducted in 2020 by Intercall and published by HBR.org shows that more than 65% of participants in online events choose to do something else: check their emails, social media, eat their lunch or even get involved in another conversation.

3.??????Professionals suffering from public speaking anxiety are more often removed from their comfort zone because silence is not an option and online communication has become the norm nowadays. Some feel relieved to speak behind a screen and with some supporting notes next to them, for others it still remains a burdensome chore.

4.??????For extroverted professionals accustomed to face-to-face interaction in the business environment, the screenful of turned-off cameras can become confusing. Some lose their motivation to support their ideas, others make excessive use of tone, gestures hoping that they will receive a sign that they are truly heard.

5.??????For all categories of speakers, the technical challenge remains a matter of concern. Improper video background, poor sound, poor positioning in front of the camera, insufficient light, poor internet connection are just some of the most common issues that still cause problems to professionals engaged in public speaking/ online business presentations. An irony arose about the fact that the most common sentence of the last two years was, and probably remains: "You're on Mute!"

6.??????Online public speaking requires an adaptation of communication style - the audience assaulted by information and slightly bored hates the monologue! So every speaker needs to develop the ability to interact differently with their online audience. From personal experience, the poorly interacting audience before the pandemic becomes even less interactive, so the challenge of online speakers is a serious one that should not be neglected.

Public Speaking Online in 2022 – what could we include in our own development plan?

Based on my experience as a public speaking coach who has personally trained over 2,000 professionals during recent years, here are some possible common goals that should be reflected in the development plan for online public speaking professionals in 2022:

1)?????To develop my ability to interact with the online audience and generate more "engagement"!

2)?????To improve the structure of my speech, to get rid of boring introductions and substanceless conclusions!

3)?????To develop my ability to use my gestures and voice to give more energy to the speech!

4)?????To control the technical aspects related to sound, image, internet connection and back-up for all.

5)?????To self-evaluate after each performance and to set new development goals in this area.

10 tips & tricks for memorable online speeches in 2022

1.??????Accept speech topics aligned with your area of expertise.

2.??????Allocate at least 5 days in advance for preparation. Repeat your speech at least 6 times!

3.??????Formulate your ideas in a simple, easy-to-follow way!

4.??????Be sure to include stories/ case studies, examples in your speeches! Avoid being too strategic or too tactical, walk gracefully between the two areas!

5.??????Don't be afraid to use your gestures in online speeches. They must be visible on the screen.

6.??????Place your camera at eye level and look there during your speeches! Position the speaker window under the camera so your gaze will stay where it should be.

7.??????Close notifications, there is nothing more unpleasant than to see your personal messages on the screen.

8.??????Interact with participants every 5-6 minutes through questions, requesting chat comments, using surveys or other applications integrated into video conferencing platforms.

9.??????Provide fast flow: 60 sec/ message/ slide.

10.??For longer presentations, choose to share the presentation (online scene) with a colleague if possible. A single voice can become monotonous to the audience in speeches ?longer than 30 minutes.

For every Career Transformer , I strongly support the idea that every person has a story worth telling, an emotion worth comunicating and a message to send for the benefit, transformation and evolution of his/her community. Progress in public speaking is achieved through constant exercise and exposure. If you don't practice, you regress!

In simple words. If in 2019 you were a good speaker and you didn't practice in the pandemic at all, don't expect to be as good in 2022. You will have to work harder, learn again about the public and the changes caused by the pandemic, you will have to fail here and there until you get better.

?I wish you great success! Remember that public speaking means giving something from your experience, from your career/life stories - something that can be useful to those who listen to you! Dare to do so! Let's go beyond the turned-off video camera wall!

If you want to train your team in public speaking or you need a 1:1 coaching program in public speaking you can contact me here. If you found this article useful please share or subscribe to Career Transformers Newsletter?here!?Thank you!

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