Frankly, it is Exhausting

Last week I delivered twenty-one hours of virtual seminars, and frankly, it was exhausting. I stood in front of a camera and talked to myself for hours at a time. The message was essential, and those in attendance have enjoyed my virtual seminars.

It doesn’t change the fact that I am exhausted.

As a person who worked in theater for over fifteen years, I know there is something special about the connection between an audience and a performer. The performer feeds off the audience, using the energy of the audience to deliver their performance.

I miss the participants in my in-person seminars. Dare I say it; they made the workshops better. We had a chance to discuss the issues that matter the most to them. They shared their wisdom. They asked the questions they needed me to answer.

My virtual seminars are interactive. There is much communication between the attendees and me, but it is not the same. They write their questions, answers, and comments. I ask them to raise their hand, and occasionally I will allow an individual’s voice to be heard.   

The experience is different for them and me.  

This isn’t to say it is worse, or it is better. It is just different.

To make sure it isn’t exhausting for our participants, here are some steps we can take.

1.      Bring the energy – the more energy you give off, the more you receive.

2.     Use your voice – modulate it; change the pace, the tone, the words.

3.     Use visually appealing slides – ones that highlight what you are saying.

4.     Make the audience think – ask questions, do case studies, ask for their opinions.

5.     Use Breaks as a way to refocus them

6.     Have fun – if you have fun, they will have fun.

 As I become more comfortable on this side of the camera, I will let you know what I have learned, what works well, and what doesn’t work at all.

Let me know what questions you have or what you have learned.

Let’s grow together.

John