5 ways to present online

Before 2020, no one really knew of "Zoom." Almost every organization has in-person workspaces; with rare exceptions, few US workers were entirely online or remote. But the COVID pandemic changed everything. Now, everyone is remote, and meetings and presentations are virtual.

Not everyone has adjusted equally to making online presentations. We haven't all adjusted to engaging our remote audiences. If you also struggle to make a connection during an online presentation, try these 5 tips to speak like a pro:

Make eye contact

The stack of lenses in your webcam is your window to your audience. Don't make the mistake of making "eye contact" with the faces on your screen; the Zoom window is just where your computer is displaying your audience. Instead, make eye contact by looking directly into the webcam. A friend places photos of family behind her webcam; then she has faces in her eyeline when making an online presentation. Another colleague taped little LEGO minifigures to the top of his monitor, to simulate "people" he might speak to during a Zoom meeting. Do what helps you to keep your eye on the webcam so your audience will think you are looking at them.

Speak like a human

We tend to speak like humans when we address other humans. The opposite is true too; we can adopt a flat delivery if we don't really believe that we are speaking with others. But it's important to maintain a natural speaking voice, to bring emotion, to make it engaging. This may require practice, but if you can speak naturally during a Zoom meeting, your audience will be more engaged.

Avoid distracting slides

If we want to make a big impression, it can be tempting to focus on making outstanding slides. And while good document design is important, avoid going too far: your slides should not be an experiment in design. Instead, keep it simple, with a few bullet points plus a big photo. Without distracting elements, your audience will stay focused on your message and the important takeaways you want them to learn.

Practice your talk

Your big presentation should not be the first time you've done this. Too often, I've watched conference sessions and team meetings where the presenter clearly had no idea what the next slide would bring. It's very awkward for your audience while we watch you pause, read your slide, then say "Oh yes!" before making your point. Make sure to practice your presentation ahead of time. You shouldn't try to memorize the talk, but know the overall story you want to tell, and make each slide an opportunity to move that story to the next step.

Be confident

Not everyone is outgoing or extraverted. Some are more naturally shy, less likely to maintain confidence during a big presentation. If that describes you, I encourage you to remember:. No matter if your presentation is five minutes or an hour, you are the expert during that time. Your audience wants to learn from you. Don't be afraid of them