Preparing Your Mind, Body and Soul for Webinars and Interviews

Even the most experienced speakers don’t step up on a stage or sign in as a guest on a webinar without doing their homework. No matter how much road warrior expertise and thought leadership, they understand the value of preparation and practice. Branding and reputation must be a priority. Speakers represent themselves and their companies when they step on the main stage or in front of a camera, meaning they must put ego and expertise aside and approach each opportunity with a blank sheet. That doesn’t mean you have to forget everything you know, including industry perspectives, personal experiences and insight - but you should set it aside until you flesh out the topic of the discussion.

Great speakers weave their expertise on top of the core elements of the conversation without letting it interfere with the messaging. The key is to enhance the discussion topic, not to obliterate it with stories or points that are not relevant to the subject matter. That sounds easy, yet how many times have you sat through a presentation with a title that varied significantly from the content? Don’t be that person.

Planning helps prevent that problem. Depending on the setting (i.e., keynote, webinar, interview), speakers must prepare a variety of things before the lights go on, including their presentations, minds, computer and camera positioning, lighting and body posture.

Public speaking requires a greater effort and more groundwork than most people expect, but forgetting one element can compromise the quality of the discussion appreciably. Here is a comprehensive checklist of things you should do prior to stepping into the limelight to ensure greater success (no matter the forum). ?

Prepare Your Presentation and Talking Points

Like any project, a well-laid plan will improve the chances of a successful public speaking session. Whether giving a keynote presentation on the main stage of a large industry event, sharing insight in a webinar, or conducting an interview with a respected member of the media, preparation helps drive perfection. The following tips will get you started:????

• Define the objectivesDetermine the overall purpose of your presentation, clearly outlining your goals so you can align the content and flow.Confirm your audience, their expertise, knowledge level, interests, and their expectations of the discussion.
• Identify the key talking pointsDetail the main ideas that will form the backbone of the conversation.
• Organize your thoughtsPut the key point into a logical sequence that builds to an effective conclusion.
• Incorporate relevant support materialsInclude research, case studies, examples, and details of the concepts, programs, products, services or other things highlighted in the discussion.
• Write out your introductionMake the opening more memorable with a short but interesting story, statistic, quote, or point that will capture the audience's attention.
• Create takeaways for the conclusionConclude with a strong close with a specific call to action. What is one thing your audience should do or remember from the conversation? Keep it simple.
• Review and updateEvaluate your presentation or outline and adjust as needed. Take care not to overthink this process, but ensure the content is clear and concise and meets your original goals. Feedback from team members or peers is invaluable.

Get Ready for ‘Go Time’

Public speakers, including event presenters, webinar guests and those being interviewed by media via video platforms, have a few more tasks to complete to ensure a successful performance. From configuring the technology and testing the lighting to picking out the proper attire, you can improve the quality of these engagements by following these simple steps:

Dress the part

??????? Avoid wearing shorts and jackets with thin stripes, plaid and checkered patterns to prevent pixelated video and pictures.

??????? Skip bright colored and white clothes.

??????? Make sure it’s wrinkle-free and collars are not curled at the end.

??????? Make sure your hair is neat and not tussled.

Create an effective background ?

??????? Use a solid color backdrop with a simple company logo (video).

??????? Avoid wearing the same color as your background or backdrop.

??????? Purchase a high-quality external video camera for online discussions.?

??????? Remove political or what might be construed as controversial items and avoid clutter in your background.

??????? Properly position plants, lights and decorations and test to ensure nothing looks peculiar in the background (like something protruding from your head).

??????? If you’re in a large room, keep open space behind you to provide depth and improve the image.

??????? Use natural light when possible, ensuring it is bright and evenly distributed (no shadows). Avoid direct sunlight, but the source should be in front to illuminate your face.

??????? Those wearing glasses should position themselves to avoid reflections.

??????? Backgrounds should never be brighter than you.

Find the optimal position

??????? When speaking on stage or in front of a room, test out the lighting and review monitor locations before you go on. What feels and looks best? Comfort and appearance are key.? ???

??????? For video sessions, ensure your computer, camera and microphone are about an arm’s length away.

??????? Double-check that the camera is facing forward and positioned at eye-level. Set up a test video looking directly into the lens and adjust the equipment to your satisfaction.

??????? Remind yourself to look directly into the camera, not the screen, so the conversation is more natural (eye-to-eye) with other speakers and the audience.

??????? Position yourself in the middle of the picture and avoid slouching during the session.

??????? Ensure you have approximately one hand’s width between the top of your head and the upper edge of the picture.

??????? The bottom of the frame should come to your chest. If not, move the camera closer or further away (this is why external cameras work better).

Regulate your sound

??????? Pick a quiet place (or do your best to dull the noise).

??????? Put a recording sign on your door so no one enters or knocks during the session.

??????? Test and adjust sound levels and listen for sounds from nearby rooms before logging in.

??????? Turn off or mute your phone.

??????? Close background programs and notifications on your computer and any nearby devices.

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Other tips for video discussions

??????? Use books or solid objects to get your camera to eye-level.

??????? Do not read from the screen. Print out and post any notes at camera level (without blocking) to maintain better eye contact with the audience

??????? Avoid jostling or leaning on your desk to prevent shaking the camera.

??????? Use a mouse (not a touchpad) during presentations to avoid awkward eye or body movements.

??????? Keep a steady position. Smile and feel free to use hand gestures and be animated, but ensure your face remains center screen.

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Be in the Right Mindset

No matter what the forum, one of the most important steps to remember when preparing for a public speaking engagement is taking a few minutes to mentally prepare. Block your calendar for 60-minutes prior to a stage presentation to get mic'd up, review your opening and get yourself in the right frame of mind.

You may half that prep time for webinars and interviews if everything on the list above is complete. If not, add an extra hour to set and test your lighting, sound and positioning.?

Finally, take a deep breath and relax, especially if you’ve finished the entire public speaking checklist and feel comfortable discussing the topic. A positive attitude and proper planning will help ensure the success of those conversations. ??

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