Be Brief, Be Brilliant, Be Gone: Ace Your Virtual Presentations Like A Pro

 

If you haven’t heard the old maxim ‘Be Brief, Be Brilliant, Be Gone’, it’s an old chestnut that has been attributed to everyone from Winston Churchill to Franklin D Roosevelt. When it comes to virtual presentations, nothing could be more true.

The economy and clarity with which you create your presentations and deliver them is key for anyone in business. With virtual presentations now being the norm, it’s more important than ever to get to the point, keep your audience’s attention, and leave them wanting more.

1. Be Brief

“I didn’t have the time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.”

Mark Twain

 

It’s much more difficult to choose the right words than to simply write down everything you know about your chosen subject.

The more precise you are with who your audience is and what they need, the more streamlined the body of your presentation will be. Get a clear idea of exactly what you need to say, not what you want to say, and map it out with a clear structure. Then, practice it and hone it to within an inch of its life and edit, edit, edit!

There is nothing more exciting than a presentation that gets to the point early, gives the audience the facts, and finishes before time. Creating content for your virtual presentation that is concise and economic will win you points with your audience, trust me.

Related: 4 Signs You Talk Too Much In The Office

2. Be Brilliant

 

There is no getting around practicing and honing your virtual presentation skills. Believe me, I’ve tried! These include but are not exclusive to using the camera lens as eye contact, perfecting body language, breathing, and having a varied and engaging vocal delivery.

Brilliance means being prepared and practicing the delivery of your words and story. At the end of the day, you are a storyteller. So get practicing, know your story well before you put it in front of another person, and get feedback about how you look and sound.

When you map out your story, remember: ‘Be Brief’; keep it short and simple. Einstein once said:

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.

Not only will it be music to your audience’s ears but a virtual presentation that is compact and pithy will be easier to remember as well.

Related: Why Storytelling Is A Skill You Should Practice

3. Be Gone

 

Let’s face it, people are sitting through hours of meetings and virtual presentations every day of the week and it is exhausting. ‘Zoom Fatigue’ is a real thing so keep in mind that you don’t need to use every minute you are given to present.

When you hit the nail on the head right off the bat and give the audience what they need, you’re working not just to fill the time you’ve been given, but to a clear plan of what actually needs to be said. Then, you say thank you and goodbye.

One last thing about signing off at the end of your presentation: Always thank the audience. Remember, audiences are selfish. They want it all to be about them, so let them know what an amazing job they did just listening to you. You’re making use of both your time and theirs so don’t forget to make them feel like super stars.

Virtual Presentations Are Here To Stay

 

Whether you’re face to face or giving a virtual presentation, the main tenants are the same. Keep it short and sweet, practice until you are slick and prepared, and then leave the audience wanting more.

We’re going to be seeing each other virtually for quite some time so make it your business to learn how to create your content with precision and deliver it with aplomb.

Related: Virtual Reality