How To Nail Your Next Video Call, Pitch Or Interview
Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash
Recently some Accela team members were lucky enough to enjoy several training sessions with renowned public speaking coach, Victoria Mintley. We focussed on how to “do yourself justice” in public speaking situations such as a client pitch or presentations, while ensuring that your key message is always clearly communicated with confidence. It was all about ensuring you have presence and impact in your presentations, pitches and meetings.
Almost everyone is meeting and pitching over video now, whether it be a new idea to your team, a job interview or meeting clients. What we learned with Victoria was really valuable pre-COVID, but has become even more valuable in this strange new world dominated by 2D virtual conversations and constant cries of “Can you hear me? I can’t hear you!”. This “new normal” that we find ourselves in presents a host of new challenges and when we’re talking over technology - clear, concise and confident messaging is even more important. In this article, we explore how the skills and tips we learned can easily be applied and adapted to suit pitching and communicating over video.
Body language is everything
This might sound simple, but whether you are physically in a room with someone or sitting in front of your laptop, body language is everything. Pay attention to your posture, sit upright and plant both feet on the ground. This not only helps you feel more in control but stops you from fidgeting and really allows your lungs to open up for your voice to project clearly. Studies have also shown that good posture boosts individual engagement and shows the audience that you are engaged.
Boost your background
Make sure that your camera is at face level and that you have a clean, clutter-free background – you don’t want week-old laundry peeking out of the bottom of the screen.
Lighting is important too. Being well-lit will improve not only your confidence but also your presence. Try and position yourself with a light source behind your screen to remove any harsh shadows and always avoid having your back to the window.
Make a connection
One of the biggest parts of walking into a pitch or meeting in person is gauging the chemistry with your audience and building relationships. This is a lot harder through a screen, but starting the call with a conversation starter is a great way to break the ice and get to know your audience a little better.
Not everyone will have their cameras on, so if you’re relying solely on audio, the importance of your delivery is key. Make your presentation interactive and allow time for people to ask questions to ensure everyone remains engaged and involved. Patience is also crucial. Give your counterpart ample time to respond without cutting them off, as they may be unmuting themselves. If you do find yourself talking at the same time, be courteous, apologise and invite them to finish. This way, you maintain control but also demonstrate your interest in what they have to say.
Reading people via Zoom is much harder, so make sure you are looking and watching for people’s reactions and take cues. That goes both ways too. It can be easy to slouch or act more casual when you’re in your own space, but it’s really a matter of respect. Engage with your counterpart, and keep your eyes on the camera. Also remember, even when you are not presenting you may be appearing on camera on the other person’s screen – so throwing in the odd nod and smile here and there will show that you are paying attention.
Your delivery
Ensuring that you are delivering your message or idea effectively via video requires a different approach. The principles of how engaging you are during your call largely remain the same, though. Keeping your tone upbeat, projecting your voice clearly and regularly pausing to engage is even more important during a video call as (let’s be honest), they can tend to get monotonous, and people can easily switch off. Look directly at your camera when you are speaking and be sure to switch up your tone, pace and volume. Flat, emotionless delivery is boring, so make sure that what you are selling sounds exciting, and excites you.
Be pitch prepared
It might not be possible for your whole team to be together for the pitch or meeting, or even prior, so it’s more important than ever to ensure that you are prepared. Take time as a team to run through your key points so that you all know what to expect. If you need notes, make sure that they are in a clear spot so that you can avoid your eyes wandering when you are presenting. Two screens are handy for this and if you have a notes app, try and position it as close to the camera as possible.
Don’t forget about design
Without physically being in front of your audience, the presentation of your deck is vital. Keep it simple and straightforward – clear and clean slides help to get your point across quickly. Your slides need to tell a story without being too wordy, so imagine taking your audience on a journey, while still getting the main points across. A clear structure will also really help with the flow of your conversation.
