One of the most common questions I get from leaders about virtual presentations is - how
do I get my audience to turn their cameras on? My response is: Why is that important to you? Their
response: “I need feedback on how I’m doing. I don’t even know if they’re even paying attention.”
As a speaker or presenter, there’s nothing more exhausting that delivering
your message straight to camera only to hear and see this in response.
In this video, we look at how to overcome the anxiety of having a passive
virtual audience and more importantly how to connect and engage with your audience even if
their cameras are off. I’m Riaz Meghji, this is the channel that helps leaders,
coaches and experts connect with confidence every time you speak.
Subscribe to get the latest videos and best tips that will elevate your influence and
impact and make you a magnetic presenter. In the virtual world, your audience will
always have a choice as to whether or not they will show themselves in presentations.
Sure we can tell them the good reasons to have it on. If we can see each other, we can have a better
experience, listen with our eyes and communicate non-verbally. Because of our own negativity bias,
when communication is ambiguous, we tend to assume the worst.
So if the cameras are off and we can’t see how the message is received, our anxiety starts to set it.
How can we solve this problem and elicit a greater connection with our virtual audience?Here are 3
quick ideas for you: Personalize Rhetorical Questions When we hear awkward silence in our in
person conversations, what do we do….we talk more to fill the space. Try the opposite, especially
in virtual presentations… Lead with curiosity, instead of trying to jam more content into your
presentation. Rhetorical questions are a great way to keep your audience engaged. For example,
you could ask simple questions like ‘Are you ready to change the way you communicate this year?’
‘Do you want to connect instead of simply communicating? These types of questions keep
the audience engaged as they think about the outcomes they want to achieve. Also notice,
instead of saying ‘does anyone’, i’m using the word ‘you’ in the questions ‘do you
want to connect?’ This helps personalize the ask and makes it feel like I’m talking to one person.
Engage First, Talk Second In virtual set-ups, we’ve heard the basic questions presenters
through in off the top. ‘Can everyone hear and see me?’ ‘Where are you joining from?’ - Let’s skip
past this basic curiosity and be more intentional with our engagement.
Start with something that brings everyone in. For example, you could start by asking “What’s the
most important thing you look for when building a new relationship?” Pause (we all know it takes
a second for the responses to come in) Then as you start to see the chat light up, read some of
these responses and use the person’s name that wrote the comment to personalize your approach.
You’ll quickly start to gain confidence that the audience is not only listening to you, but also,
they are in your corner. Call people up, not out
Make your best effort to get people to turn their cameras on by letting them know well before the
meeting starts that you’d love to see them. If they agree, consider that your best case scenario.
If they still show up and have their cameras off, let them know you might call on them and
to be prepared. If you can have them get ready and stay ready before and during the meeting,
you’ll set them up for success. They’ll feel more empowered and willing to engage with an active
role in the presentation and it won’t matter as much when they contribute, if their camera is off.
Transparency creates trust I recently delivered a keynote where a leader shared a very personal
story and her camera was off. Her story about having someone check in on her during a
difficult time was still effective even though we couldn’t see her. She owned the space by stating,
she had an extreme allergic reaction - think Will Smith in Hitch - and didn’t want to be
on camera because of it. Even that honesty and vulnerability can lead to connection,
because if you are being transparent, the audience will respect your honesty.
Virtual presentations represent a new choreography of human connection. While
it’s difficult to read the virtual room, active participation with a back and forth in the chat
will help you feel more connected to the audience and have them more engaged in your content.
If we get intentional about giving the audience our attention, chances are we will get it back
in return, even if the cameras are off. What helps you connect with your audience
during virtual presentations? Share your ideas in the comments below.
For more ideas on presenting and meaningful human connection, you can download the free guide - the
5 secrets to making every conversation count, that link is in the description.
If you are looking to level up your presenting skills and connect with confidence every time
you speak, apply for The Magnetic Presenter program that helps transform you and your
ideas into powerful presentations that elevate your impact and influence.
Thanks for watching this video - if you want to ace the guest intro to or conquer your speaking
anxiety, check out these videos. If you found this content valuable, hit the like button,
subscribe and feel free to share the content. We will see you in the next video.