Christmas parties, New Year’s receptions or association meetings – owners and managing directors often have to give speeches. Finding the right words made many people sweat even before Corona.
Management consultant Barbara Liebermeister reveals how entrepreneurs now master speeches that take place digitally. She heads the Institute for Leadership Culture in the Digital Age (IFIDZ) in Frankfurt.
The author is a sought-after speaker on topics such as leadership, (self-) leadership and networking.
Tip 1: don’t sit
When we sit, we hardly gesticulate and thus underline the meaning of our words less. As a speaker, when you are standing and moving, you are sending more body language signals to your audience. That increases your own impact.
Tip 2: Act as actively as with face-to-face lectures
When we communicate with an invisible audience, we usually show fewer facial expressions. This is why our words quickly seem bland. You should therefore energetically push yourself before your “performance” – similar to an actor.
Tip 3: Pay attention to good lighting
You should definitely consider a good lighting of the room. In particular, no shadows should fall on the face, so that the facial expressions and the language of the eyes can also be clearly recognized.
Tip 4: Underline the core messages graphically
It is more difficult to convey messages credibly and impressively online than in face-to-face events. You should therefore emphasize the core messages, for example with graphics or short videos.
Tip 5: be careful with the technology
The more unstable the connection, the more unprofessional a lecture appears. The more you are concerned with the technology during your speech, the more impersonal you come across. Therefore, before and during important speeches – with a larger audience – you should ensure personal, technical support.
Tip 6: It’s all about variety
You can also try out new and unusual things, like music in the background or comics. Anything that creates an exciting dramaturgy is allowed.
Tip 7: work with storytelling
The speaker should take his audience on a journey of thought, for example through the coming business year. One can think in advance: What is the reason for the trip? Where should this go?
Tip 8: pay attention to the surroundings
It is human when, for example, the disorder in the study also gives a personal impression of you. But does this correspond to the message that one would like to pass on? You should check this before going online.
Tip 9: Pay attention to a well-groomed appearance
The same goes for looks. It does seem casual when you see the boss with a three-day beard or the boss in a sloppy T-shirt. But does this have the desired effect?
Tip 10: Don’t forget people
When speaking online, the speaker usually does not see the faces of the audience. At least he can’t communicate with them through eye contact. He should therefore regularly address individual people or groups of people, such as technicians, trainees or employees in the home office, directly and personally. Another tip: In the event of a breakdown, you should try to remain calm. Because the main job of a manager is not to give speeches. Therefore, small mishaps make a more authentic impression. The audience also usually overlooks larger ones, as long as the relationship with the speaker is right.
Source: Nachrichten
