Virtual Training, Webinars, Teleseminars -Something's Missing - Let's FACE it!

Many are asking "What's Missing?", in virtual training, webinars, and teleseminars. When we take our face-to-face presentations to virtual space, somehow we leave a piece of us behind, and our interaction with the audience isn't quite as dynamic as they are in person. Webinars and teleseminars are gaining more and more popularity because of the ease of technology, the elimination of the need to travel, and the flexibility that they offer. However, we need to be ever so conscious about the way we deliver in these new environments to make sure we keep the attendees involved. When we take our face-to-face delivery to virtual space, what's missing? The FACE, of course. We miss the visual feedback that tells the presenter how s/he is being received and perceived by the audience. Therefore, we often miss the clues as to how we adjust our presentation techniques to keep the audience engaged. Whether we facilitate virtual training, virtual meetings, or deliver teleseminars, it's good to remember to keep our FACE.
F - Fun factor
A - Activities
C - Collaboration
E - Energy


F - Fun Factor. We love to see our audience having fun, laughing, and smiling at us in face-to-face presentations. Could it be that because we do not get that reward virtually, we forget to infuse our virtual events with fun? Often times, we miss the stories, the humor, and the friendly banter. Make notes on your script to include these elements and it will really help you come alive virtually.
A - Activities. It is so boring for me to just sit and listen, sometimes watch the computer screen, when I attend these virtual events. In the classroom, we ask the participants to raise their hands, stand up and stretch, take notes, answer questions, and other activities (some of these are very creative and engaging) to reinforce learning, and yes, keep them awake. There are many underused techniques in virtual space that presenters are ignoring. Even the really user-friendly emoticons and chat features are often times left untouched. Sophisticated attendees will often use these on their own. The presenter needs to bring these to the audience attention and remind them that these are available for their use and prompt them to use these features by asking questions. There are many more activities that we can include in virtual events -- breakout sessions, whiteboard, blogging, interactive workbooks, and many others. Activities keep our audience engaged, awake, and interested.
C - Collaboration. Notice how participants in the classroom might whisper something to those sitting next to them? Or maybe scribble a note? Do they come alive when we divide them into small groups so they can talk to each other and exchange ideas? People love to come together and collaborate to learn from each other. What are we doing to include these in our virtual events? Many of the attendees have great information to share. Are we making time and encouraging the collaboration? Even a simple Q&A session can encourage this to happen naturally. Often times because of time constraints, we forego this exchange of ideas. Build it into the time, it is so essential for participants to feel they are really a part of the event.
E - Energy. Many of us (we may not realize it) do not project our voice energy over the air waves like we do in face-to-face presentations. Somehow, it gets toned down. Realize that when our audience just have the audio to go by, we need to really focus on energizing our presence. In face-to-face events, the audience see our gestures, our body language, and our eye contact. Not so over the air. Our audio, specifically, our voices, can make or break the event. How is your voice energy? Record yourself and see if you are coming across as the alive, passionate, and enthusiastic facilitator that you are. Is your smile coming through? Is your passion coming through? Try this - smile, walk around, gesture while you speak through the mouthpiece or the microphone. This will make a great difference on how your voice comes through.
On the other hand, if you come across with too much energy, you may drain your audience as they try to keep up with extremely high energy level. In face-to-face, too much energy can be easily defused by visual elements. Your gestures, body language, other visual props in the room can balance high level auditory input. Over the air waves, the focus is so strong on your voice that a long high-energy delivery can be exciting at first, but draining, if not tempered.
Achieving a balance is essential. Mix it up!

So what's missing when we transition from face-to-face to virtual? Most of these events leave the FACE behind, remember to keep yours. Have Fun, Activities, Collaboration, and Energy, and watch :-) your virtual presentations come alive.