Communication strategies that work well in-person don’t always transfer to a virtual meeting. Strengthening your presence in a Zoom, Teams, or Skype call means improving your awareness and following these tips:
1. Focus on the camera, not your audience
This sounds odd, I know. Yet presentation coaches tell us that direct eye contact is vital to reinforcing your point and building connection with your audience. In a virtual meeting, this means looking at the camera when speaking, not the faces of your colleagues.
Here are a couple suggestions to make this easier:
• Attach a photo of a person or pet you care about directly above the camera to be your audience as you look deep into the camera dot.
• When presenting, minimize your presentation window and move it as near to your camera as possible so you are looking in the direction of your audience.
2. Your facial expressions and voice matter
Hand gestures and posture are no longer visible to convey your message so focus on what is visible – your facial expressions. Smile to convey approachability, use your eyebrows to convey interest, and nod your head to let others know you’re listening. Be equally conscious of your voice – both the speed and pitch modulation – to inspire
confidence in you and your message.
3. Prepare and practice
To build motivation around your objectives, it’s vital to have a strong presence. Practice what you want to say and consider recording yourself to make adjustments so you show up at your best.
4. Stories are important, and sharing them forges deeper connections
Working remotely from home has taught us we can be both professional AND personable. It’s okay, in fact important, to share anecdotes from your life to build trust and rapport. Don’t be embarrassed if a child or pet wanders onto your call – your colleagues can relate. Just be sure to have a way to handle the interruption and regain focus on your meeting.
While these skills are essential as we meet virtually now, the good news is that they will help you strengthen your presence as a leader throughout your entire career.
Further Reading
Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges – Amy Cuddy
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action – Simon Sinek
“I truly do feel that my coaching sessions with Debra allowed me to evolve both as a manager and as a person. She took both inward and outward-looking approaches; assigned self-reflective exercises to define my core values and an outward focus on techniques to build relationships with my team, ensuring I create an environment of support and trust for them.”
— Melissa Carmichael, former Product Design Manager at SurveyMonkey
“The great value in Debra’s coaching lies in her highly personalized suggestions. There are many principles in good management, but which ones are most applicable to you? Debra’s style felt more akin to “massaging” the issue with me until the concepts fell clearly into place. This made me feel greater ownership over the solutions and made me confident that she was always addressing what was most important to me.”
— David Lee, Ph.D., Head of Assay Development at Color
“I have recently been promoted to a managerial role. As I navigate in this unknown territory I am very appreciative of the great insights, guidance, help, support, feedback, and encouragement I receive from my coach Debra. She is a great listener and she selflessly invests in my development and growth. She shares resources with me to help me brainstorm, learn and practice new skills. I always walk away feeling encouraged and positive. I feel blessed to have this opportunity and to have been paired up with such an amazing coach and mentor.“
— Aleksandra Doeing, Senior Manager at Capital One
“I value Debra for her insight into difficult situations. She is amazing at actively listening and teasing out an actionable plan. She has also helped me craft team building activities for an amazing offsite that helped bring my team closer.”
— Xin Yang, Engineering Manager Fleet Firmware, Samsara
“Debra’s coaching skills are profoundly effective. She asks the challenging questions and helped me to find the solutions that worked for me. Her approach is both persistent and graceful and she knows just when to challenge and when to encourage with her positivity. The coaching with Debra has been a valuable investment in improving the way I work and the final results.”
— Nina Mullen, Founder and Landscape Designer, Mullen Designs
“Debra is an excellent coach. She came at the right moment and with the right approach. Her capacity as a listener and her very precise feedback when asked, allowed me to find clarity in a very delicate moment.“
— Alejandro Pacheco, UN Development Programme
