9.5 Presenting Virtually
Robin L. Potter
The global pandemic of 2020-2021 gave companies, organizations, institutions, and their employees a time to pause and assess how they can use their time and resources to their advantage. Telecommuting in many cases was the only way that businesses and industries could continue to operate amid pandemic shut-downs and restrictions. These organizations discovered that they could operate effectively while lowering overhead costs, even when employees worked from home. The big shift to the “work from home” (WFH) model required that companies ramp up digital communication strategies and that employees quickly learn them so that businesses could survive. Now, especially since the WFH model appears to be a lasting change in the way businesses operate, virtual meeting tools have become a routine part of daily workplace communication.
Using communication technologies effectively is a necessity if businesses and industry are to thrive. While many are familiar with email and text messaging, not everyone is comfortable with software that enables face-to-face, or virtual, meetings. Yet such software enables businesses to conduct meetings when employees and other relevant parties are not in the same location. And with global business on the rise, this software can help to facilitate international communication and information sharing while reducing travel and other costs.
At these virtual meetings, you may be asked to deliver some information or even a more formal presentation. Drawing on experience, this chapter will focus on key principles to assist you in delivering an effective presentation using virtual meeting software. Most meeting software contains the same basic tools, but these tools may be built into the interface quite differently. Given the zooming popularity of Zoom Video and Web Conferencing during the pandemic, we will use Zoom as a model when referring to specific functionalities.
Preparing for Your Virtual Presentation
While previous chapters addressed the planning process that goes into creating any presentation, when delivering a presentation virtually it is good practice to develop some key habits to ensure that the presentation goes smoothly. Presenting from home can have certain challenges, so being prepared will go a long way to creating a polished and professional image.
- Invitation Link: Ensure that you have the invitation link for the scheduled presentation. If you are not the one who is organizing the meeting at which you will be presenting, make sure that the person who is has sent you the invitation with the link. When the meeting is set to begin, click on the link to join the virtual meeting. If you are organizing the meeting, ensure that you have shared the link with invitees. On the day of the meeting, resend the link to attendees so it is at hand. Launch the meeting software about 30 minutes before the meeting begins so you can ensure that the software is working as expected.
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