A totally virtual workplace is not uncommon these days. In many companies, remote video-chat meetings are the norm in place of real-life office meetings.
If you’ve ever been a speaker in a meeting, you know it can be nerve-wracking. It can be just as scary, if not more so, to be a speaker in a virtual meeting, so let’s talk about how to prepare.
For a virtual presentation, the rules of preparation are really similar to a face-to-face presentation. First, pick out an outfit that you feel confident in, even if it won’t be shown in entirety on the video. Don’t wear something you wouldn’t wear to an in-person conference just because it’s virtual.
Next, you’ll want to practice before going live, just the same as you would if this presentation was in person. It’s almost always better not to have a script, and more just bullet points of what you want to say. This way, you won’t struggle to remember word for word lines and you will come across as genuine instead of robotic.
Lastly, make sure you have good lighting and a quality backdrop. This means no messy room in your background and no harsh shadows on your face. This can make you seem unprofessional and/or just look silly.
