You have just found out that your business is now using video conferencing and you have been chosen to stand in front of the camera and lead the event. You know that there will be people from many different locations piping in to hear what you have to say and you are extremely nervous.
In some ways delivering a speech or communicating with others through video conferencing will be just like delivering a speech to people sitting in the same room with you. There are just some special considerations that come up with you are working with people in remote locations.
1. Learn how to use the system well in advance of the conference.
Don't wait until the night before the big digital conference to start learning how the system works. Ideally you should have someone in the room with you who knows how everything works so they can fix any problems that may come up along the way. You still need to know how everything works so you use the system correctly and don't cause problems.
Give yourself some time to get comfortable with the digital conferencing equipment you will be using. This will make you feel more comfortable while giving the conference.
2. Build question and answer segments into your presentation.
One of the big perks of using a digital video conferencing system is the ability to make your participants an active part of the conference or meeting. You don't want them sitting there staring at a large screen or computer screen blindly. That can become incredibly boring and they won't give you all of their attention.
If you start learning about your conferencing system early on you can take advantages of all possible features to keep your participants interested. One idea is to work question and answer sections into your presentation. This gives you a chance to open up the floor and field questions from the participants.
3. Consider digital polls and other on-screen features to make sure everyone is paying attention.
You can also consider using polls which can be answered through the computer by your participants while you are talking. Not everyone likes these features as it does distract the participants slightly, but it is a way of checking how many people are actually paying attention. If some never notice it on the screen they are probably zoned out.
4. Use PowerPoint and other presentations so there is more to look at than your face.
You could just allow everyone to see your face or your body throughout the conference, but you could make it more fun by adding images and other relevant content to the screen. You can now give complete PowerPoint presentations complete with notes on slides with many video conferencing products.
5. All the standard tips for delivering a speech still apply.
This is the most important thing to remember when giving a conference or holding a meeting with video conferencing programs. Even though the participants are not sitting right there in the room with you, they might as well be. You have to dress for success, plan ahead, and have something to say that is worth their time.
Video conferencing solutions can make your life easier and take off some of the pressure of delivering face-to-face conferences, but you still have to take it seriously and put in the work to prepare for the big day.
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