Business today increasingly depends on teleconferences and virtual meetings—but working from a long distance can create communications challenges.
Lead your virtual meetings with the same professionalism you do in in-person meetings. Dardis Communications recommends following these best practices to improve the outcome of your next distance meeting.
- Identify the purpose of the meeting. No one wants to hear a presentation, virtual or otherwise, that has no real purpose. By identifying the purpose of your presentation upfront, you’ll know how to construct, organize and deliver the message.
- Learn the technology. Set aside ample practice time and learn to use the technology in a low-risk situation so you’ll appear poised and confident during the actual meeting.
- Practice, practice, practice. Consistent practice makes perfect. “Winging it” is a recipe for disaster.
- Keep tuned in to the participants. In order for communication to stay active, be attuned to the “feel” of the participants. Even though direct eye contact and body language is not available, your participants are sending you signals—such as a noticeable lack of questions or an increase in background chatter. Avoid letting the session become a passive experience for participants.
- Prompt some form of interaction every 3 to 5 minutes. Encouraging questions and interactive exercises: Connect with your audience as often as possible to keep them engaged.
- Online meetings are collaborative events. In a live environment, encourage participants to interact with each other and view each other as resources.
Learn how to effectively connect with an audience that’s not in the same room as you by attending a Virtual Presentation Skills seminar with Dardis Communications.