How to make your online presentation “must-see TV”

Carl Guess, an executive presentation coach with Elevator Speech, has worked with leaders in technology, healthcare and retail organizations. This column summarizes tips he recently shared with the American Water Works Association staff about how to deliver an effective online presentation.

“When you present online, you’re now a television show.”

That’s the reality of the hybrid workplace – as in both in-person and online – we’re now part of, said Carl Guess, an executive presentation coach based in Seattle.

The challenge is that when you present online, “People are going to tune in or tune out depending on how well you hold their attention,” said Guess. 

To make your presentation “must-see TV,” he said, focus on the three things below.

Your audience

Most working people are overscheduled and may have already sat through several video calls before tuning in to your presentation. 

“We know it can be fatiguing to have back-to-back video calls, so you need to break through the noise and grab everybody’s attention by getting to the point right away,” Guess said. If you can finish in less time, so much the better.

“You’ll never be kicked out of a meeting for finishing early,” he added. “In fact, you’ll probably be invited back because they know you’ll make the most of everyone’s time, not waste it.” 

Your online presence 

When you present online, remember to look at the camera on your computer while you’re speaking. Focus on the camera light or put a piece of colored tape there to remind you where to look. This seems intuitive, but it’s something that Guess still sees on a regular basis more than two years into the pandemic. 

“When you look at the camera, people feel included, but if you’re looking off screen, your audience becomes distracted by wondering what you’re doing,” he said. “That’s a good way to lose their attention.”

Pay attention to your background as well. “If you have stuff piled up behind you, people are going to start looking over your shoulder instead of listening to what you’re saying,” Guess said. “You have to frame your shot the right way.”

Also, up your energy level about 10 percent so you’re a bit more animated and energetic. “Cameras have a tendency to flatten us out, so we need to push through that flatness by being just a bit more animated,” he said. “If you sound tired or listless, it may come across that you’re not interested and that’s the cue that the audience should not pay attention.”

Your technology

There are many considerations when it comes to technology, but Guess’ top recommendation is to connect your computer with a wired Ethernet or internet cable rather than relying on Wi-Fi. This is because Wi-Fi is built on radio waves and can easily become scrambled if someone nearby turns on a microwave oven or clicks on a garage door opener. “If your video or audio begin to stutter, all of a sudden your audience isn’t listening to you,” he said.

In addition, make sure your computer is up-to-date on any routine software updates and re-boot everything about 30 minutes before giving your presentation.

Should anything else unexpected happen, be prepared with a backup plan. Print out your slides so if the worst case happens, you can refer to them while calling in a presentation over your phone.

“You can’t stop technology from failing, but you can be ready if it does,” Guess said.

More career resources and job opportunities are available at AWWA’s Career Center and at Work for Water.