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.

Humor goes a long way towards helping to relax difficult situations and to put everyone at ease. I am by nature a serious person, but I find adding a dash of humor makes the day and a meeting easier. Humor is not always about telling jokes; it is also smiling and looking at the lighter side of things. A laugh once a day makes life a lot easier. “Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing,” said author Mark Twain.

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.

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.

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.

Meeting on Zoom, GoToMeeting, or WebEx is difficult. Long meetings are especially challenging. Be sure to set up early for the meeting, having the items you need available. Put away any distractions, such as a cell phone or additional paperwork (no multi-tasking). Keeping engaged will help you connect with those in the meeting. Facial expressions are the best way to ensure a personal connection (smiling and making eye contact directly into the screen). Watch for cues to ensure your message is being heard. Always use mute when you are not talking. Be open to dialogue on Zoom and engage in discussions.