Presentation Skills: Online Presentations
Online presentations have become more common in recent years because of the Covid pandemic. The basic principles are the same but there are a couple of differences that can make online presentations more challenging:
- A greater reliance on technology and Internet connectivity. Lose your Internet connection and that's the presentation over
- You can't use body language to convey the points you want to make because you're sharing your screen or only your head and shoulders are visible, so it's more difficult to engage with your audience
- A feeling of shouting into the void because you can't see your audience - are they actually there?
Online presenting requires more effort to keep the audience engaged so there's more of a requirement for distinctive visual content and a dynamic speaking style. At the same time, online presenting does have its advantages:
- You can present from anywhere that has an Internet connection, so you're not necessarily presenting in a public setting, instead, you can present from a more comfortable and familiar environment - like your bedroom perhaps!
- Because you're not presenting to a live audience, there might be less pressure on you. You don't have to worry so much about projecting your voice or making eye contact
Online Presenting Tips
- Check any special requirements - e.g., camera on/off policy, if there are questions, will they be asked directly or appear in a chat function?
- Get familiar with the app you have to use - Teams, Zooms, etc.
- Make sure you know how to share your screen so that the audience can see your presentation
- Consider a dry run with friends/family to see how the presentation goes (especially useful if you haven't done this before)
- Test your technology beforehand to make sure that it works - your internet connectivity and your microphone
- Think about using an external microphone to better capture your voice
- Position your camera correctly - try to position your face in the middle of the screen so that the camera is not aimed too high, too low or off centre
- Dress professionally - this should give some confidence
- Before you start, check that everyone can hear you. Also check that everyone can see your screen if you're sharing it
- If your audience is muted with camera off and you're performing into a void, you might consider asking a friend to come round and be an in-person audience. You can focus on and engage with them. Failing that use a pet, or a stuffed toy or a picture of an audience - something with eyes that you can look at.
- You should at least have the camera on at the start of the presentation and at the end of it. If you'd prefer not to be seen during the presentation itself and can switch the camera off, then do so.
- Remember, everyone's Internet connection will be different, so if there's any audience interactions such as questions, give audience members time to speak and be aware of slow connections
- It's very important to signpost what you're going to say, so make sure have introductory and summary slides and announce transitions between different sectors
