10 best practices for acing virtual presentations

Editor’s note: We are re-running the top stories of 2020 as part of our year-end countdown.

With most everyone working remotely—many for the first time–meetings via conference calls, webinars and video chats are becoming the norm.

Whether you are talking with 10 or 1,000, leaders must perfect their content and tailor their delivery specifically for virtual presentations. To help, here are 10 best practices for effective communications when no one is in the same location:

1. Be genuine. Think of your presentation as a conversation. It’s important that you come across as authentic and transparent. It is extremely difficult to keep people’s attention if it sounds as though you’re reading a script or just going through the motions. Be genuine, and speak from the heart.

2. Lead with empathy. Put yourself in your audience’s shoes. People are feeling anxious and uncertain. Address those concerns first, and make it clear that people take priority over profits.

3. Less is more. Don’t overload the audience with all the information you have. It should be about what your employees and customers most need to know.