Three years into remote presentations and still learning. Just finished a Zoom presentation for a MLGW audit where half the participants had terrible audio and kept dropping off. How are you all handling technical difficulties and keeping engagement up in virtual presentations? Any tools or techniques that work consistently?
Remote Presentations - Best Practices Post-COVID
Gail, I always start with a 5-minute tech check now. Ask everyone to confirm they can see my screen clearly and hear me well. Also share my phone number at the start in case someone gets disconnected. Better to spend 5 minutes upfront than lose people halfway through explaining demand charges.
I've switched to Teams from Zoom - seems more stable for business clients and the screen sharing quality is better for detailed charts. Also learned to keep slides simpler with bigger fonts. What looks good on a conference room projector is often unreadable on a laptop screen.
Wayne makes a good point about font sizes. I now use 24pt minimum and limit slides to 3-4 bullet points max. For engagement, I ask specific questions to individuals rather than 'does anyone have questions?' Forces participation when people can't make eye contact.
Mike's technique about asking specific questions works great. I also record every presentation now with client permission. Helps with follow-up questions and some clients prefer to review details later rather than interrupt during the meeting. Plus it covers you if there's any confusion about recommendations.
Brian, I use polling features for quick comprehension checks. 'Click 1 if this savings estimate makes sense, 2 if you need clarification.' Gives me instant feedback without putting anyone on the spot. Also helps identify who might need follow-up conversations.
Emily, polling is clever! I've started using breakout rooms for larger groups - split them up to discuss findings for 5 minutes then reconvene. Keeps energy up and lets quieter people participate. Though it only works with groups of 8+ people.
Jan, recording is smart for liability too. One challenge I'm having is reading the room remotely. Hard to tell if people are confused or just multitasking. Anyone have good techniques for gauging understanding when you can't see body language clearly?