Affiliations offer companionships, respect and safety which is why folks belong and groups grow. The negative side is when we become one voice and all yes people. We all want relationships that bring us the foundation pieces. How do we remain our individuality and keep the group strong and with integrity and honesty? It is a burning question I have. Hopefully, groups will keep this issues on the forefront.

My favorite colors are black and gray. When worn in in jackets and outerwear it gives me comfort and very easy to mix and match with other colors. However, when photographed wearing these colors, I look dreadful. Wearing reds and bright colors will always photograph well. How do I counteract this, is to wear brighter makeup and a bold lipstick?  I have many dull pictures of myself in these dark colors and learned a bold lipstick with make my skin look alive.

Especially now on Zoom. A person’s face is always the star of the show. Hair, jewelry and clothing choices are what should frame the face. How you look someone in the eye and smile will say it all. Yes. from a distance, we notice the posture, color and some style choices now in virtually more so.

The pandemic continues to prohibit individuals from attending live seminars. These days, webinars and virtual presentations often help bridge the gap. Presenting virtually comes with its own set of challenges though. Here are some tips to ensure a successful presentation.

• Offer pre-work by asking virtual attendees to suggest three items for discussion: what do they want to walk away with having learned?
• Allow for questions to be asked during the presentation.
• Use visuals. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. PowerPoint presentations should have more pictures than words.
• Use Zoom or Go to Meeting – these formats offer screen sharing and the opportunity for verbal interaction.

A signature brand can be a color that is recognized as belonging to an item or person. Take McDonalds, for example. McDonalds’ signature colors are red and yellow. Apple’s signature is the apple with a bite missing. For Anna Wintour of Vogue, it is her hair cut. Eyewear has now become an easy way to make a statement and be a brand. For Simon Sinek, it is his colorless eye frames. Consider choosing a color or jewelry pieces that can be worn constantly.

In the middle of a global pandemic, new etiquette rules must be considered. One must be aware of local guidelines as to the number of people allowed at gatherings (currently fifty people or fewer in Illinois). Always indicate on the invitation that wearing masks and social distancing should be honored by attendees. This means a mask is required and attendees must stay six feet apart. Offer masks to those who attend without a mask and indicate, in a non-confrontational manner, that masks must be worn. If someone chooses to not wear a mask, let them know it is for their safety and the safety of others and they will not be able to participate without a mask.

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.

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.