Public Speaking in the Time of Lockdown: Why It Matters And How To Do It

This morning I did my hair and makeup, set up strategic lighting in my home office, turned on my camera and filmed a video for my business.

I didn’t feel like doing it. I felt like throwing my hair in a ponytail and hiding out from the world with the biggest mug of tea imaginable.

It was a totally optional exercise. So why bother?

Well, part of it was the business case: video content is amazing for connecting with the community and potential customers. Videos get more reach on social media, they get more attention and engagement, and they build that “know, like, trust” factor that matters so much in business. I’m not just some sketchy stranger on the internet; I’m Alex, a living human person with a face and a personality.

And, if I’m being honest, it was actually kind of a fun creative project: an homage to one of my favourite TV characters (bonus points if you can guess which one). It’s so worth the effort when you create something that makes you smile and gets an enthusiastic response from others.

These days, it can be so easy to hide. But even if you haven’t worn pants in 9 months, let alone stood in front of a room full of people, public speaking still matters. Learning to get comfortable on camera can mean the difference between blending in with the masses online, or getting noticed for the dynamite that you bring.

So many opportunities exist now that people are on their computers rather than out socializing. You don’t need to wait for an invitation to express yourself, and you can use your own platform to build a huge and appreciative audience. Just look how Canadian actor Julie Nolke went viral with her video “Explaining the Pandemic to my Past Self.”

Of course, virtual public speaking is its own beast. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re used to speaking in-person (or avoiding it entirely):

1) Video demands a different way of speaking and moving.

The orators of ancient Greece and Rome had to be be seen and heard by the masses without the aid of microphones or jumbotrons. The techniques that speakers developed in response - big, dramatic gestures, vocal projection and careful elocution - can still be seen on stages today. It’s because they work, and because they’re what audiences expect.

But they can seem out of place online. A digital audience is watching you on a device tucked into a corner of their home - or even one that they keep in their pocket. Your presence on their screen is a very intimate form of connection. If you start gesturing wildly or speaking like you just graduated from finishing school, it can come across as weird and fake.

It also might not fit within the frame of your camera, or sound weird through your mic. The cheap desktop mic that I use during videoconferences accentuates sharp sounds like T’s, so I have to make sure I downplay them - which is the exact opposite of what I would do when trying to be heard by a crowd.

Finally, online presentations require choices that don’t usually come up at live events. Choices like: sit or stand? Standing for a presentation can look more impressive, and it makes your voice sound better by helping you breathe more deeply. But it can seem overly stiff and formal in some online presentations. it can also take you out of range of your microphone. There’s nothing worse than people yelling “Beth, you’re on mute!” when you’re not even on mute.

2) You’re competing with endless distractions.

Your audience is sitting in front of a screen where they’re vulnerable to distraction by: their open browser tabs; their email; their unfinished projects; their pinging cell phone; their children; their pets; their messy desk; their half-eaten lunch and that dust bunny on the floor. You need to keep them focused on you, and that’s no easy task.

A few things you can do to keep people  attentive and engaged are:

• Periodically ask easy questions and get them to type their answers in the chat. Questions like “Where are you tuning in from?” “On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you know about this topic?” “Type ‘YES’ if you’re ready to take action on this!”

• Use interactive presentation tools like Mentimeter* rather than traditional slide decks. These tools allow the audience to visit a URL and enter data that is used to populate the slides in front of them. People love to see themselves reflected in the work of others, so this will help keep them actively engaged rather than passively watching a slide deck and tuning out.

• Make your voice more expressive than usual. Vary the pitch, speed and volume to help people engage with what you’re saying. This is important because they’re missing out on body language and other non-verbal cues that they’d normally pick up from you. And it’s especially important if you’re sharing your screen or showing slides, because they might not be able to see you at all.

3) The recording lives on.

This really scares a lot of people, but honestly - it’s fine. In fact, it’s a good thing, because it gives you a chance to be seen by more people, which raises your profile.

That said, knowing that your presentation is likely to be out there for a while, you might want to consider primping a little bit, cleaning up your background and ensuring that you have good lighting. When you look good, you feel good. Also, when you look good…you look good.

Consider more timeless content for these occasions. There’s definitely a place for commentary that addresses the current moment (hello, even this blog is doing it), but if you want the piece to reach new audiences continuously, consider how to make it relevant in the longer term.

Finally, get a second opinion on what you say. Personally, I think fears of “cancel culture” are overblown — if you think you’re going to somebody with a 5-minute presentation about corporate financial statements, then I have serious questions about your accounting practices — but sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. There are common phrases with deeply offensive origins (as well as some that are thought to have offensive origins but don’t), and lots of ingrained attitudes that are now being called into question. If you’re worried about getting called out by some future viewer, ask a trusted advisor for some honest feedback.

All of this can be hard to think about when pyjamas and hot chocolate beckon. But if we’ve learned anything from this year, it’s to think ahead about what you might need in the near future. Remember sprinting through the grocery store for the last roll of toilet paper back in March? Yeah, you do. So you’ll probably be interested in what I’m about to say.

Networking in January and in the After Times will be a lot easier once you get a handle on what to say and how to say it. And the new online Fearless Public Speaking program is designed to help you do that from the comfort of home. You don’t even have to put pants on. At the same time, you’ll have access to a supportive online community who will offer ideas, feedback and encouragement on the journey.

Register online, or contact me if you want to chat about whether this program is a good fit for you.

*I don’t get paid to promote them! I just really like the tool.