How to avoid making the #1 virtual presentation mistake.

After two months of virtual conferences, many presenters are still using scripts and reading their presentations to us. So I sat down (virtually) to discuss this with an imaginary would-be presenter...

Me: I hear you’re presenting at a virtual event next week.

Presenter: That’s right. It’s our annual conference and of course we have to do it virtually. I’m giving one of the keynotes.

Me: Great! I strongly suggest that you talk to your audience.

Presenter: As opposed to...

Me: ...as opposed to reading to them.

Presenter: Well, I have a script I'm planning to use. But I’ll be reading it off my screen so people probably won’t know notice.

Yes, we will. Great actors can make scripted language sound unscripted; the rest of us can’t. Plus your face will be 18 inches from the camera, so we’ll see your eyes moving back and forth as you read from the screen.

But I wrote the script, so I’ll be reading my own words.

It doesn’t matter. You’re reading. Why not just email the script to us? We can read at 2-3 times the speed that you’d be speaking.

Sorry, I need to ask: why do you get to speak in italics?

Hey, next time you can write the article and choose your own formatting. Can we please get back to business?

Alright, so here’s the thing: I don’t have a lot of time on the agenda, so I have to make every word count.

Reading may help you say all the right words, but the words probably won’t count as much. That's because in a presentation – as opposed to a written piece – there is no separating the messenger from the message. We’re taking you in at the same time as we’re listening to your words; the whole “you are the message” thing.

Hmm...maybe I'll hire an actor to read it...

Are you serious?

No—that’s just my sense of humor.

Mine too! Listen...you know this material, you care about it, now you need to bring it to life for your audience. You got this!

But if I'm speaking from notes or slides, I’ll probably have some stumbles and might even forget a point or two.

In other words, you'll be human. Perfect--so is your audience! And humans tend to be receptive to other humans being human. You won't forget the important stuff, I promise.

I gotta say, public speaking makes me a little nervous.

You’re not alone. But most people can manage their nerves. My top suggestion is to over-prepare. When you know your stuff inside-out, you can usually push through the nerves. Plus, for most people, talking to a webcam is much less nerve-wracking than standing in front of a full room.

Okay. But check this out: I’ve got a different talk in two weeks that absolutely, positively has to be delivered verbatim. Our legal department has insisted we not deviate from the script.

I understand. While this is the exception, sometimes there’s no getting around having to read. Here’s how to do it: format and print your script as if you were going to deliver it to a room full of—

What? I’m going to have my computer screen right in front of me, why would I use paper?

This is a controversial recommendation, but stay with me. Reading from a paper script is a familiar conceit. It’s easy for an audience to understand what you’re doing. Read from your screen on a webcam look weird. Of course, I’d coach you to look up from the paper at the audience (which in this case means looking into the camera) frequently, just as you would if they were in the same room.

If you say so. By the way, how did you learn all this?

Through experience. I've presented hundreds of times and coached and/or written for hundreds of speakers across a variety of industries and settings.

Wow. You must be old.

Seasoned. I'm seasoned.

Nice pivot. Hey, if I wanted to hire you to help me with the presentation, what would I do?

Just send an email to [email protected]. But act quickly, before a bunch of other prospects book my time.

Yeah, I think I can hear them beating down your door.

Ugh. Next time I'm going to imagine someone less snarky.

Good luck with that.

The End

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