How to survive giving a remote presentation

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Written By Laura Linham

Dry mouth, sweaty palms, increased heart rate – must be time to do another online presentation.

Glossophobia - the fear of public speaking or social engagement isn’t rare - even if you feel like you’re the only person in the world struggling with it. In fact, figures suggest that around 77 per cent of the population feel anxious when it comes to public speaking.

But while being nervous in front of a ‘live’ audience can be an issue for many, more and more presentations are now being delivered virtually – when there is no immediate reaction from the crowd and more importantly, no place to hide if things go wrong.

What does glossophobia feel like?

When faced with having to give a presentation, many people experience the classic fight-or-flight response. This is the body’s way of preparing to defend itself against perceived threats.

When threatened, your brain prompts the release of adrenaline and steroids. This causes your blood sugar levels, or energy levels, to increase. And your blood pressure and heart rate rise, sending more blood flow to your muscles.

Common symptoms of fight-or-flight include:

  • rapid heartbeat

  • trembling

  • sweating

  • nausea or vomiting

  • shortness of breath or hyperventilating

  • dizziness

  • muscle tension

  • urge to get away

More and more client meetings, new business or prospect presentations, networking and interviews are now being done virtually – unleashing a new set of presentation stress upon us. As if normal glassophobia wasn’t enough to be going on with, we’ve got the added fun of tech going beserk and standing in our front room in a business suit and desperately hoping the dog doesn’t run and sniff your crotch, or a badly-timed delivery driver doesn’t show up.

So what can you do to make an online presentation a less stressful event?

Nel Woolcott managing director at Anne Corder Recruitment, said: “At one time or another, many of us have had an uncomfortable experience when it comes to presenting – particularly over the past 18 months when we were all thrown into the world of speaking or presenting remotely; with people telling presenters ‘You’re on mute’, others trying to keep the barking dog quiet or even suffering the embarrassment of sharing an entire meeting calendar with the group.

“However, presenting is still something that many people aren’t entirely comfortable with, but while remote working looks set to stay, being prepared is absolutely key.”

So when you’re delivering a presentation online, you should try to make your beginning as error-free and smooth as possible. This includes being prepared and removing potential roadblocks.

Step one: Prep!

Check your tech:

Always double- or triple-check your equipment before giving a virtual presentation. Make sure your microphone, webcam, and internet is working. If you have to fumble around with technical details during the video call, your audience may have the impression that you are unreliable.

If you’re using a camera, test it in advance. Don’t just understand how it operates, but also understand how others will see you. Ensure you have an uncluttered backdrop, check the lighting and shadows, and carefully check that the camera is capturing you directly.

Ensure the eye of the camera is at your own eye level. This means you aren’t looking down literally at your audience. And looking up at the camera eye, or not directly at the camera only distracts your audience.

If you are using unfamiliar equipment such as a computer or software, test it by calling someone who will give an honest assessment of your sound quality. You don’t want echoes, static or background noise.

Eliminate distractions:

Silence your phone, turn off desktop notifications, get rid of loud fan noises, and make sure your room is kid/dog free. Keep in mind that your audience will likely be listening through their headphones, so even the tiniest of noises might be heard.

Dress appropriately:

Here’s an easy one that some people actually neglect. Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like you should have worn something a little nicer? If you are giving a business presentation, dress in business-appropriate attire. . It’s best to match your audience—and if in doubt, err on the side of professional! It’s also important to wear a colour to stand out from your background, but not a colour that’s too distracting.

Be happy:

Like it or not, we can’t hide our emotions. Research shows that people can hear your mood from your voice. So if you’re not in a good mood, try boosting it! Watch some funny YouTube videos or give yourself a small pep talk. Sounding confident and happy is the key to success, so make sure you are in the right mood before you go live.

Step two: The presentation

Virtual presentations are like taking a flight on an aeroplane. The beginning and ending are super important, but the middle’s kind of a blur. 

That’s why, if you’re going to prioritise any part of your presentation, you are better off spending the majority of your energy on the first and last minutes. Here’s a few hints to get you through it without a crash:

A little extra prep

Email handouts in advance and obtain as much information as you can about your audience so you can engage in chatty conversation with them just before the event starts.

Say Hi!

Take five minutes or so at the start to welcome the attendees and to establish friendly atmosphere to encourage interaction with participants.

Keep it simple, stupid

If you are showing slides, keep them simple, with only one key point per page. This helps people to remain focused on your message. Don’t get sidelined by giving too much detail – or your audience’s attention will stray.

Ask broad questions periodically to keep their attention: “See how the figures have risen in the past couple of years. Do you think this direction will continue?”

Keep checking!

Good audience attention and satisfaction are vital components of an effective virtual presentation. Check that your audience can hear you every so often and ask if you need to turn up your speaking volume or the volume setting on your computer.

Moderate your words (and tone)

Vary the tone of your voice and speed of your delivery to keep the interest of your audience.

Pause somewhat when you have articulated a key point to let them ponder a little on the implications: “When we reviewed the results of this survey we found an important trend had become clear…[pause to build interest].”

If you can, stand to make your presentation. This makes you sound and feel more energetic. But don’t move around or sway your body – because you will distract your audience (and look like a weirdo).

You’re not a robot

Use facial expressions to emphasize what you say. Smile when you introduce yourself. Wrinkle your forehead when you ask a question. Lean in and raise your eyebrows while you listen to an alternative idea. People will be able to detect your concentration on proceedings and your energy when you do these actions.

Use names

Speak to people by name and ask for their input or comment. If it’s a larger meeting, try to use interactive tools built into your meeting software, such as polling questions and multiple-choice quizzes to keep people focused and involved.

Something gone wrong? DON’T PANIC

Relax, even the best speakers mess up or have bad luck. When Theresa May was the Prime Minister she stumbled and coughed her way through a presentation, with someone even handing her a resignation letter.

She battled through like a pro, though, and simply acknowledged it and moved on. It’s not a big deal to anyone.

Finishing up

If you’ve made it this far in your presentation, the LAST thing you want to do is crash and burn. So here are some tips to make an amazing presentation that will remain in your audience’s mind long after it has ended.

Have an easy solution:

The last few slides of your presentation should not be too information-heavy. Keep that for the middle. Your last slides should be both convincing and easy-to-understand.

Have a clear ending:

Avoid the awkward “So, does anyone have any questions?” moment by providing an end slide to your virtual presentation. It can be a simple recap of the presentation, or a call to action.

Everyone loves a freebie:

Include a digital goodie: Include a digital goodie at the end! Everybody loves getting things, and it shouldn’t stop just because you are online. Digital goodies might include a downloadable PDF or document that includes more statistics/research or a list of relevant sources related to your presentation.

Ditch the Q&A:

You’ve just spent 20-30 minutes wowing your audience and now you’re going to let your presentation fizzle out with a Q&A? Beyond the fact that you are never in full control of what questions you will be asked, Q&As are just not memorable instead:

Thank the audience for their time and attention. Offer to stay online to answer if anyone wants to talk about any aspect of the presentation, and make sure people have your email address or contact details if they want to ask any questions later. Introverts in particular will remember you forever.

Say Goodbye:

Nothing is more uncomfortable than a presenter who doesn’t know how to end and just waffles awkwardly. The audience is left thinking, ‘Is that it? Do we clap now?’ Make sure you and your audience knows that your presentation has reached its final destination with a clear cut, ‘thank you!’ and goodbye.