Ok… I get it.
Virtual relationships aren’t the same as in person.
They lack the connection. They make you to self-analyze how you look, what you say, and what your background is. You tend to experience Zoom fatigue and many more circumstances that you don’t enjoy.
(Especially for those of you in sales!)
By adopting The Hero Mindset we can focus on small things that make a big difference to become a hero in your own movie.
But what are those small things when it comes to being engaging on video?
And, “Do I have to really make video my thing?”.
Well if you haven’t concluded yet, remote work is here to stay.
Maybe not 100%, but according to this article in Forbes, employees can expect to keep around 60% to 80% of their work from home.
As a result, something that I have realized time and time again is that I continue to have conversations where I help people (especially in sales) learn a few tips and tricks about keynote speaking that helps me engage and connect with my audience.
A few simple techniques can help you better manage change by deepening your relationships with your prospective client, establishing a greater connection with your team members, and learn how to build trust within a virtual world.
Just as you would naturally do in person, there are “natural” behaviours that you can practice while on camera to help you be more engaging and liven up those mundane and boring video calls.
Reflecting on the strategies that I use to deliver The Hero Mindset keynote and The Resilience Toolbox workshop, here are five tips to help you be more engaging on video and rock this virtual world!
Move Before Your Call
Prior to every single keynote I deliver, I know that I need to move.
Ideally I want to get a workout in first, but if I can’t, I need to at least go for a walk. I need to do some push ups, squats, or something in order to loosen up and be energetic!
I will literally pause before my session begins and get on the floor on the other side of my office desk and do 20 push ups prior to my call with the intention to get my heart pumping and change my mental state.
When you move our body:
- You increase your endorphins
- You become more alert
- You open up your chest
- You open up your breathing
- You enunciate much clearer
All of which comes through on a call!
You will feel looser, more confident, and be present with energy on video.
If you want to be ready to establish a connection with your guest(s) on your call, don’t show up on video slow and tired.
First, move your body and get into state.
If you want to be ready to establish a connection with your guest(s) on your call, don’t show up on video slow and tired. First, move your body and get into state. Click To TweetMake Yourself Laugh
I realize that I should probably have titled this “Make yourself smile”, because what I know is that a really good laugh will bring out a genuine smile.
It sounds silly, but it works.
When I deliver The Hero Mindset keynote, I can’t wait for my audience to “light me up”. I know that my audience will respond to the energy that I bring to the stage.
You must decide how you want to show up.
In one of the world’s all-time best-selling books, Think and Grow Rich, it’s even one of the six key principles in “How to make people like you”.
“People who smile tend to manage, teach and sell more effectively, and to raise happier children. There’s far more information in a smile than a frown. That’s why encouragement is a much more effective teaching device than punishment.”
– Excerpt from Think and Grow Rich
As soon as you get this, everything will start to shift.
How do you make yourself laugh or smile when you don’t want to?
You could do something like watch this stupid cat video, but what I do is I start with an intentional fake laugh first (which I then feel stupid about).
That results in a real laugh (which is me laughing at how stupid I am for fake laughing!), and that results in a genuine smile helping me be ready for my call and in a completely different state of mind!
I’m not kidding. I do this all the time!
I can’t tell you how many times I have had people thank me on a video or phone call for helping brighten their day because “I was in a good mood”.
I wasn’t always in a good mood until I put myself in a good mood, just 30 seconds prior.
When you decide how you want to show up, others will begin to follow suit and reciprocate based on how you behave.
Calls won’t seem as long.
Conversations will be more fun.
“Selling” will become easier for you.
It requires you stepping outside of your comfort zone, but I can assure you that this will help you show up and create more engagement on video.
When you decide how you want to show up, others will begin to follow suit and reciprocate based on how you behave. Click To TweetStay Upright
When you are sitting down and leaning forward, you are doing several things.
- You are collapsing your ribcage which means you will have less air in your lungs
- When you have less air in your lungs you will be shorter in your breath
- When you are shorter in your breath you will have less enthusiasm. It takes more energy to think, and you are not as “sharp”
Basically, sitting down makes it harder for you to be excited on camera.
“Well, Kevin. I’m not excited to be on camera. I hate Zoom!”.
Ok, fine. Fair enough, but the world of video doesn’t care if you like it or not. Video is not going away.
You want to find every edge you can to excel in this virtual space.
If you can, stand.
If you can’t (or don’t want to), sit up straight.
Chest out. Shoulders back.
When you are upright, you give yourself room to move around. You give yourself flexibility. Your natural self comes through a lot more organically and you create more engagement on video.
Look Down The Barrel
When you speak on camera, you need to look down the barrel.
What does that mean?
Taki Moore described it as if you had a shotgun pointed straight at your face, you would be looking at this little tiny circle pointing at you, and you know that you are the target.
In order to create a deeper connection and be engaging on video, you need to make YOU the target.
You should be looking at that little tiny pin prick of a dot at the top center of your monitor, or wherever your webcam is located.
It’s easy when on a video call to get caught up spending more time looking at yourself or the other person rather than looking directly at the camera.
In turn what happens, is that people see the side of your face. They spend 60 minutes looking at your forehead or the side of your face and you don’t make eye to eye contact with your audience.
To compare, how would it feel if every time you got together in person you were looking over someone’s shoulder, being more interested in what is happening in the background, to the side, or what other people are up to rather than the most important person – who is directly in front of you.
If you were in a meeting in person, you would be making eye contact nearly the entire time you are with them.
So why neglect the importance of eye contact when you are on video?
I call it “Look and Lean”.
Look down the barrel when you speak.
Lean to the side when you listen.
“Look and Lean” to create a deeper connection on video.
In order to create a deeper connection and be engaging on video, you need to make YOU the target. Click To TweetWork The Camera
Now, forewarning… you don’t need to go crazy here and put on a performance, but I do want you to consider a few tips and tricks.
- Try using hand gestures just like you were with someone in person
- Lean into the camera to show your interest or emphasize a key point
- Try changing your vocal tones by doing something like whispering to draw people in or allow yourself to show your excitement
- Clap your hands together if you are excited, because it will create an auditory cue and reaction, helping you connect on a deeper level with your audience
- Point at something, someone, or yourself
All of these are little things that you can do at any given moment to help you be more engaging on video.
Allow yourself to step outside of your comfort zone and work the camera.
What can you think of to help your personality shine through?
In Conclusion
The more you practice this, the more impactful you will be.
Even for myself, I had to literally just sit behind my computer screen and practice moving my arms around (with the camera off, first) getting used to what it felt like to be more flexible and comfortable in my own space while working from home.
It feels weird and silly to be alone in a room, laughing at yourself, practicing stretching, and doing push ups before your video calls, but with a little bit of effort and by stepping outside of your comfort zone, you can make a big dent in how you show up on video and start to increase sales, increase engagement, and establish a deeper connection and trust all from the comfort of your own home.
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Enjoyed this article? Here are three more to help you develop a resilient mindset:
How To Stay Focused At Work And Be Productive
How To Turn Off Work (And Disconnect Completely)
How To Say “No” And Maintain Your Boundaries
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Whenever you are ready here are the 3 best ways I can help you:
- Get a FREE copy of my autobiography (click here)
- Looking for a speaker for your next event? (Contact Kevin)
- Learn more about The Resilience Toolbox Workshop (click here)
