Position a mirror near your computer. Why? Because it provides an opportunity for you to check out your body language while you are presenting via phone. Your audience can develoop mental images of you by your voice. For example,If you are smiling during parts of your presentation it actually changes the tone of your voice. You sound friendly.
HARD TO BE A CLOWN WHEN YOU’RE WEARING A FROWN
Humor is so helpful in relaxing your audience. Check your facial expressions. Does it show a frown? Your attitude really can be heard in your voice. So often, we wear what we feel on our face although we are not doin a face to face presentation.
DO YOUR EYES LOOK SLEEPY, ARE YOU YAWNING?
That’s right the fatique in your face can be reflected in the energy of your voice.
So get a small mirror and place it where you can see it near your computer during your next webinar or teleseminar.
Do you have any other ways that a mirror can help?
Sorry, I can’t agree with this one at all! Most people are self-conscious enough for two when they’re presenting – why would you want to make them worse by putting a mirror in place. Not only does it make them overly self-aware it’s un-natural to see themselves when they present.. and frankly it’s unreasonably distracting.
I spend all my time training people to do the opposite of how this idea is going to make them feel! Self-aware is good, certainly, but self-conscious is *not*!
Sure, you want to smile and gesture naturally when you’re on the phone but a better tip would be to suggest people use head-set phones so they can stand and gesture naturally as though they had a real audience… not an image of *themselves*
Simon
Simon, thanks for your insightful comment. The great thing I have found about presentations skills coaching is the variety of approaches. Just like some folks learn differently than another a mirror or no mirror may work for some and not for others.
Certainly, if my hair is undone or huge bags are under my eyes I will take notice and it can be distracting. But all the more to take better care of myself.
Thanks again
One more point, I totally agree about the head set and standing up. It increases the energy level and adds to the connection.
What a great suggestion! In fact,there are several ways to use th mirror approach. I remember learning this technique when I took a course in increasing sales and getting people to buy more. The PRESENTER said that if you keep a mirror near your phone, when it rings, you can check yourself before answering. I decided to try it in my retail florist. We have several phone lines and so I put a mirror by each one. It was funny at first, because, yes my staff felt very self concious, however once they got used to it, it became one of the best “sales tools” we could ever implement. People can definitely tell when you are smiling ~ even on the phone. Our voice tends to go up a notch when we speak and it gets lighter.
In fact, I used to do a lot of radio commercials for my shop and instead of going to the studio would call into a radio station to record my commercials. John Hause, my radio representative, mentioned to me that I should keep a mirror by the phone when I do and I told him, that I always do. I became known as one-take Heidi because it was rare that I would have to re-record the segment. Such fun!
So it makes sense to do this when presenting virtually. Thanks so much for the suggestion and the reminder.
Heidi
I’m one of those that would be distracted by a mirror. One of the reasons for my fear of speaking came about when I was being videotaped for an inservice for staff members, many years ago. The monitor was facing me and I was distracted by all my hand movements while I was speaking. I do better just focusing on the topic and not on me. This is a great discussion!