What’s more nerve-wracking than presenting to a room full of people? Some might say it’s presenting to a Zoom room full of people.
Presenting virtually, after all, poses entirely new challenges. There’s no feeding off others’ energy when everyone has their microphones muted. To make matters worse, some video conferencing platforms don’t allow presenters to see the audience while they’re sharing their screen, making it difficult to gauge reactions. Throw in the increased potential for tech issues, uncontrollable background noise and a constant stream of distracting notifications, and even the most seasoned public speaker can get thrown off their game.
While most professionals have fully adapted to working remotely, the art of the virtual presentation remains elusive. But that just means tech workers have to employ new strategies in order to keep their listeners engaged.
Sierra Roth, executive assistant and office manager of Allstripes, is no stranger to leading discussions via Zoom. And because Allstripes is a remote team, she’s made it a point to hone her skills in pulling off more dynamic virtual presentations. That’s why Built In SF connected with Roth. She gave us her best advice for pulling off a great remote presentation — minus the nerves.
Easy steps to a smoother presentation
- Troubleshoot any tech issues well before your presentation to avoid any awkward hiccups. This means testing your camera, microphone and ability to share your screen effectively.
- As you would any presentation, practice running through your deck several times. This will help you time yourself and refine any clunky talking points.
- If you’re unable to see the chat feature while sharing your screen, ask a colleague to keep an eye on it, in case any pressing questions that need to be addressed in the moment arise.
- Still hungry for more advice? We’ve got you covered with more tips for leading effective meetings.
What’s your best tip for giving a better, more engaging remote presentation?
Choose one person on the Zoom call to make “eye contact” with, as if you are speaking directly to them. It’s easy to feel like you are not really speaking to anyone at all while presenting remotely, and looking at an entire page of Zoom attendees can feel intimidating. Focusing on one person to speak to strikes just the right balance.
What’s the biggest mistake you see people make when giving remote presentations?
A mistake I see is when people follow their notes so closely that it sounds like they are reading from a book. I am a huge fan of using notes when I’m presenting, to make sure I hit all of my talking points. That being said, I like to deliver them in a way where it sounds casual and friendly, as if I am having a conversation with a friend or close colleague.
