Covid-19 has changed the world for the foreseeable future. We have all experienced this change differently, with many finding joy in giving remote presentations from their home office. There is a steep learning curve to understand the technology and virtual presentation skills required to create effective virtual presentations.
Some of the old rules still apply.
As a speaker, you are a vocal athlete requiring a physically fit voice and instrument. Your voice is often the barometer of your physical and mental health. Your voice will reflect fatigue, depression, anxiety, stress and disease. It will also show joy, happiness, energy, health, passion and poise.
In the past with face to face presentations, 55% of every speech was based on non-verbal communication skills such as eye contact, gestures, and platform mechanics. The presenters’ voice dynamics was 38% and what was said, the message, was 7%.
Those percentages have gone through a radical shift and change. The non-verbal communication of every virtual speech now consists of 10%, the presenter’s face being well lit and easy to see. The presenter’s face must be the dominant feature on the screen and easily seen against the background. Eye contact must be focused on the screen most of the time.
Hand gestures are no longer used to reinforce the spoken word for an audience but instead for the speaker to maintain their energy level well below the camera lens.
So that leaves 45% to be divided amongst voice dynamics and content.
The two most important areas for every virtual presenter are:
Is the speaker audible and easy to understand?
Does the speaker make good use of mic usage such as a headset, lav or other designated microphone?
An audience is listening to your words and images more than before. Visual aids such as photos, videos and slides become more important.
Virtual Presentations are here to stay. There’s a growing need for experts to share their message remotely with impact, poise, clarity, using outstanding voice dynamics and powerful presentational content.
Written by
Bette Elly Klimitz
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