Years ago, it was said that too much hand movement when speaking could be annoying and distract from the speaker. Today, in our virtual society, hand movements have become our body language, as we are seen from the shoulders up on the screen. In a recent interview, Bill Gates commented about the pandemic. He tried to walk a fine line without causing too much political damage. Gates attempted to be diplomatic, but his hand movements and tone of voice showed he was angry about the state of affairs and troubled about the future ahead with the pandemic. Visual cues will always make an impact.

Recently published photos of female CEOs wearing sleeveless dresses have made a statement. Jan Field, president of McDonald’s USA 2012, and Madeline McIntosh, chief executive of Penguin Random House, were recently featured in the New York Times Sunday Business section. Both work in male-dominated industries. Both were wearing sleeveless dresses. Madeline McIntosh was also wearing a statement necklace. It was understated but had impact. Businesswomen, such as these, confirm they are women and leaders in their own right. How they dress makes a statement. A sleeveless dress, a bold move away from a suit, is a power dress.

In virtual meetings and on FaceTime, grooming is more important than ever, as the camera enhances flaws. Using a bit of lipstick and blush goes a long way. To enhance engagement virtually, individuals must be able to see the best in you. Do a quick check up before the meeting begins to see that everything is in place. I remember seeing my hair on the back of my head sticking up and it caused me to be distracted throughout the meeting.

Here are some of the “don’ts” to avoid when promoting virtually and working to engage the audience. Some of the speakers running for office missed the mark at the Toastmasters International annual meeting. The issues included:

• A background that washed out the visual appearance of speaker.
• Having a lack of engaging facial expression.
• Using a very serious, dry tone of voice.
• Visual technical problems.
• Audio technical problems.
• Making clothing choices that did not enhance the speaker’s appearance. For, women, their appearances were too plain at times. For men, the jacket and tie combinations appeared stiff and intimidating at times.
• Using a negative pitch.
• Using generalized challenges.
• Keeping these “do’s” and “don’ts” in mind when presenting virtually can help you to capture your audience’s attention and help your pitch be successful.
• Telling personal story that rambled and was a bit too long.
• Using a negative pitch.
• Using generalized challenges.

  Keeping these “do’s” and “don’ts” in mind when presenting virtually can help you to capture your audience’s attention and help your pitch be successful.

Promoting a product or an idea virtually in a meeting can be tricky. Here are some of the “do’s” that work to help engage the audience. These aspects helped the members running for office and speaking at the Toastmasters International annual meeting:

• A visually appealing background that aligned with the personal appearance of the speaker.
• An engaging tone of voice and excellent audio sound.
• An engaging personal appearance. Making good color and clothing choices. For women, adding a nice, sophisticated touch of jewelry. For men, wearing a white shirt and a tie that is a good color choice.
• Smiling and use engaging facial expressions.
• Sharing a quick, related personal story (such as when someone asked them why they were a member of Toastmasters).
• Asking the audience to consider how this vote would affect them.
• Giving a pitch to the audience as to why the audience members should vote for them.

Going gray instead of coloring one’s hair can, in the long run, be liberating. However, other elements need to be added for body. Color adds body to the hair if the hair is thinning. Going gray may make thinning hair more noticeable. Color with highlights often gives a look of fullness to the hair. If your hair is gray, look into products that will add body to your hair. Be sure the cut is one with an up to date contemporary style. Look at the color choices in your clothing and your make-up to ensure a contemporary impression.

I have been a Toastmaster for more than 30 years and was recently asked to be president. Toastmasters is critical for growth not just in the area of speaking but also for developing relationships. There are many leadership tracks to take when presenting. Toastmasters also will help develop your skills at providing feedback. I have learned how to give feedback that is impactful and empowering to the speaker. Visit www.toastmasters.org to look into joining a club.

To help prepare a successful speech or presentation, use the 5 P’s as a guideline. Before beginning, consider the purpose for the speech or presentation. Find your passion for the subject. The “P” for preparation doesn’t just involve preparing for your speech, it includes doing homework about the audience. Without this preparation, the other 4 P’s will not have the intended results. Be sure to practice by running through the presentation until you are comfortable. Your performance and familiarity with the subject will be key as to how your speech is received. Keeping the 5 P’s in mind will help to ensure success.

Virtual meetings present multiple challenges. This is especially true for new team members who are being introduced (virtually) to an existing team with a history of working together. Virtual introductions can be made easier by offering time in the first meeting for individuals to really get to know each other before business begins. An interactive discussion is helpful. Ask the team for suggestions as to how best to interact as a new team.

It is easy to be misunderstood in virtual meetings. Facial cues and tone of voice are more difficult to discern. In order to avoid misunderstandings and potential conflict, try to ask questions without making judgements. When differences in opinions or viewpoints arise, offer another point of view as a way to create like thinking. Keeping these tactics in mind during virtual meetings will help to create a strong team.