Improve Your Virtual Presentations By 5000% With This One Trick
--
It doesn’t matter the platform or the occasion — whether it’s a webinar, podcast interview, or a phone call— anytime you address an audience, ensure you do so from a position of authority.
On April 20, 2022, I delivered my first in-person keynote since the pandemic. It was kinda cool because I’d presented a keynote for this same organization in the middle of the pandemic, but that previous presentation was done via Zoom. So naturally, I needed to bring it in-person! (As a matter of fact, I was told to “Bridgett-ize” the session!) But back to the online conference.
Two of the conference organizers in totally separate conversations told me I was the only speaker during the entire online conference who stood for my Zoom presentation, and the difference was amazingly and abundantly clear. They told me the other speakers who opted to sit for their presentations weren’t nearly as engaging. They knew that one change was what made the difference.
I get it. It can be tempting to sit while you present a webinar, while you conduct an interview, or while you take/make calls — preferably at a desk where you can easily access your notes or where you think you will feel most comfortable; however, there are 4 big reasons why sitting during any of these performances is not as effective as standing.
First, standing rather than sitting during your phone calls, video calls, podcast interviews, webinars, and the like positions you to breathe properly, which gives your voice greater strength and clarity. When you stand while speaking, your naturally good posture can now let the air do the work of carrying the sound of your voice as you speak. You are better positioned to fill your diaphragm, not your lungs, while you speak, and it’s having air in your diaphragm that will position your words to float on air and carry; it’s having air in your diaphragm that will cause your voice to project and sound confident.
