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14 Engaging Ways To Connect With And Inspire Virtual Audiences

Forbes Coaches Council

Handshakes and in-person encounters have become a thing of the past in the Covid-19 era. As more business communication happens via video conferencing, professionals who were once able to command a room packed with live audience members now have to find other ways to connect with virtual audiences online.

How can you evolve the communication skills you relied on during in-person meetings and live presentations to connect with virtual audiences? The members of Forbes Coaches Council often work with their clients to help them inspire audiences on a variety of platforms. Below, they share 14 of their best tips for leveraging your powers of persuasion in a virtual setting.

1. Incorporate Strong Visuals

The human brain’s visual processes developed long before its verbal processes. Through visual imagery, the brain can hold millions of pieces of information, so using visuals is a highly efficient method for processing data. Use strategy maps, charts, graphs and even art, such as through Visual Explorer or Climer Cards, to stimulate problem-solving, reflection and creativity and to increase retention. - Vanita Bellen, True North Coaching and Consulting

2. Align Your Eyes With Your Webcam

Adjust your webcam so that the top of your head is aligned with the top of the computer screen. This gives the impression that you are looking into the other person’s eyes. It makes you look big and credible. If your camera is on your laptop, use a stand to make it higher so that your eyes are at the same level as the camera on your laptop. - Dan Messinger, Cream of the Crop Leaders

3. Leverage Social Media

So many people fail to realize that social media can also be a way to communicate with a company at scale. Sharing content, thoughts, posts, photos or videos reaches the members of your team in an entirely different way than meetings do. The “personal professional” aspect of it can make you relatable, communicate a message and influence others within your organization at scale. - Michael Quinn, HireMilitary

4. Create A Dialogue Rather Than A Monologue

Fundamentally, the approach is the same whether we are live or virtual. Persuasion requires trust and confidence in the relationship above all else. Build your relationships before there is an ask. Create a dialogue, not a monologue, early in the interaction. Make sure you do your homework and understand what is important to the audience. Be focused and confident in your point of view. - Cyndee Blockinger Lake, Blank Page


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5. Make Eye Contact

As silly as it sounds, it’s not unusual in today’s Zoom world to have a conversation with someone who’s not even looking at you. That’s because they’re talking to the image of you on the right side of their screen. Eye contact is key for making a connection, so no matter where the person appears on your screen, look directly into your camera when you’re speaking to them. - Gabriella Goddard, Brainsparker Leadership Academy

6. Encourage Personal Interaction

The best way to engage a virtual audience is through interaction. First, begin by asking everyone to keep their video cameras on to create a personal connection. Then, create engagement by asking great questions and calling people by their names when you ask them. Virtual meetings are all about engagement and connection. Be creative and have fun making connections and leading your audience. - Jon Dwoskin, The Jon Dwoskin Experience

7. Present Yourself Less Formally

One outcome of our shared work-from-home experience has been a resistance to formality and structure when engaging virtually. It seems that what people are relating to and desiring right now is a more casual and authentic means of communication. Those who are still choosing to present themselves as they did pre-pandemic are coming off as not relatable and inauthentic. - Cheryl Czach, Cheryl Czach Coaching and Consulting, LLC

8. Give Your Undivided Attention

Authenticity, honesty and presence are the exact same qualities that create trust in in-person communication, and this is how you want to show up online. When you treat the people in front of you with the full respect of your undivided attention, carefully listening to what’s important to them, they will sense your “nearness” and be far more prone to listen to and hear you. - Nadine Hack, beCause Global Consulting

9. Ask Good Questions And Be Curious

Ask good questions, become more curious about the responses and repeat what you heard before putting together a plan. Communication must be intentional whether you are in person or on phone or video. Why are you talking, and what are you trying to accomplish? If you aren’t clear, you aren’t kind, and you won’t get the outcome you seek. - Shelley Smith, Premier Rapport

10. Conduct Video Meetings At A Standing Desk

If you want to improve your video presence in a virtual world, get a standing desk. When you are standing on video, you have more energy and come across as more excited and animated. I often give presentations on video. I found that sitting and presenting resulted in boring presentations. I bought a sit-stand desk and solved the problem. - John Knotts, Crosscutter Enterprises

11. Tweak In-Person Tactics

Professionals should use tactics similar to those they used during their in-person meetings, but with a few tweaks. Look your audience in the eye (via webcam) and ask questions that uncover your audiences’ personal pain points and priorities. Then, provide solutions that deliver immense value and delight your audiences. - Karan Rhodes, Shockingly Different Leadership

12. Tell A Great Story

Whether you’re in-person or virtual, business storytelling is the best way to engage your audience. We connect to stories because they are based on lived, emotional experiences. We may not have had the same journey as the speaker, but we can connect with the emotion behind it. Storytelling is great for clarifying specific points too. - Frances McIntosh, Intentional Coaching LLC

13. Mirror Your Audience

To leverage the powers of persuasion, build rapport at the unconscious level by matching and mirroring the words, tone of voice and body language of your virtual audience. Notice how people sit. Are they leaning forward or back? Notice their facial expressions, hand gestures, eye movements, tone and words so that you can match or mirror those behaviors to connect at a deeper level. - Vered Kogan, Momentum Institute™

14. Stay Present

It’s too easy to only give half of your attention through video conference by allowing yourself to start multitasking, your mind to wander or turning off your video camera altogether. This will definitely diminish your influence and persuasive ability. Instead, stay visible, keep your body language engaged, listen well, remain focused and contribute to conversations actively. - Glenn Taylor, Skybound Coaching & Training

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