Managing A Video Call If You Can’t Tell Others Are Present
‘What do I do if I am on a video call, and others are not exhibiting virtual presence best practices?” Chances are, we have all been in this situation. You are on a call, and you can’t, for the life of you, tell if people are paying attention, if what you are saying is resonating, if certain individuals are looking at you on another screen or just blatantly distracted. In this week’s AMA, Dr. Marono and I go into some detail around things you can do before, during and even after an instance like this with your team. ✨ A big takeaway from this conversation, is that through video, our ability to affect other people’s energy and behavior is very real. Making sure you show up in a way that contributes to a positive, energized call, is key. But so is paying attention to how other people’s behaviors on a call may be influencing you is just as critical.✨
The Future of AI and Human Interaction – L&D Focus
Our partners at Ariel Group interviewed our CEO, Rachel Cossar on the intersection between AI and Learning & Development. Ariel Group is a leader in the Leadership Presence and Communication Skills space – we are thrilled to be working with them to amplify human potential in our new world of work. This interview is a must read for any leaders in HR, L&D, and Talent Development. Read the full interview directly on Ariel Group’s Blog here. “AI will only become more and more embedded within the L&D space. While the narrative of leveraging AI can sometimes angle towards distrust, we believe that AI can be used ethically, to unlock massive potential. In essence, AI can become the underlying force that amplifies human potential in a more accessible way. We think we are at the absolute tip of the iceberg when it comes to computer vision in particular. As our devices and supporting technologies become more and more efficient, the use of personalized AI tools to improve our professional impact will only become more seamless and convenient. Thus unlocking a large part of their power.”
Help Your Virtual Audience Remember You!
Dr. Marono and I answer questions related to body language, nonverbal communication and virtual meetings submitted by our community. Qst: How do I clearly demonstrate my presence in virtual/online communication? Video presents both a challenge, and also an opportunity when it comes to helping our audience engage with us. Spend a moment getting comfortable with levers like your framing, background and lighting, so you can then leverage the full spectrum of your digital body language. In this short video, we go into some detail around the main ways you can ensure your presence transcends the screen. When you help your audience engage with you on video, you make yourself more memorable. This means that meetings over video won’t be wasted. Give the video a look and a share, and let us know if you have any questions you’d like answered! If you want some support on mastering you or your team’s presence on video, try out our free Virtual Presence Assessment now.
Nonverbal Communication Goes Digital
Nonverbal communication, which refers to anything that sends a message that is not a spoken word, is a constantly evolving language. As we continue to streamline the way we communicate digitally, we start to realize we’ve actually been slowly developing a new language of nonverbals, all specific to video-based experiences. In reading through this article on BBC, a few things stood out to me. Most notably, a point I often make when speaking with clients: as video becomes more embedded within our professional experience, expectations will rise when it comes to the efforts we put into showing up and “sharing something of ourselves” in this digital forum. I would argue that while there was a level of necessary lenience during the pandemic, that will dissipate. And in some cases, it already has… Whether we are in person, or virtual, people make judgements based on what they perceive. A decision to have your video off, sends a strong nonverbal message. Having a sloppy background, poor lighting or being out of frame all send a message that you haven’t taken the time to consider the other person’s experience, or that you are unaware of, or don’t care about their perception of you. A particularly poignant quote: “Gestures such as turning the camera on can also be a question of politeness. “We wouldn’t sit in a board meeting with a bag over our heads,” says Ridell. “We have to learn new rules to avoid being rude.” The point about learning here is key. A lot about digital communication is pretty far from what we might consider ‘natural’. Looking into the lens instead of at the person you are talking to for instance, or having your head in the upper third of your frame, not in the middle, are counter-intuitive. These seemingly small details make a MASSIVE difference. People notice. People appreciate and in the end, people learn a bit more about who you are as a person, when you put intentional effort into the way you communicate nonverbally on video. We are helping in our specific ways with our tools at Virtual Sapiens. We believe that those who lean in now, put in effort and practice honing their new digital presence, will be at a competitive advantage by the time everyone else wakes up. Keep a sharp eye on yourself and others, I think you will be surprised at just how many messages are being shared nonverbally in our virtual world of work.
Guest Post on The Loom Transcript
Loom published a new mini-series authored by our CEO, Rachel Cossar, featuring nonverbal communication tips and tricks to get you set up for success on video. You can check out the series on the Loom Blog here. Since video is the only digital channel of communication that showcases body language, being well-versed in this area of behavioral science is a massive advantage! We invite you to check out some of the cues you can play around with on your next call, from designing your new virtual handshake to engaging effectively with your body language and your vocal cues, there is something in here for every professional looking to have an impact on video. And if you are eager to get some feedback, check out our suite of AI-enabled coaching options here.
Why Effective Nonverbal Communication is Critical for Founders to Master on Video
Since the start of the pandemic, what message would you share with startup founders concerning the importance of nonverbal communication when speaking to investors? This question, while directed towards startup founders, is relevant to anyone who has to show up and sell. This can be said for individuals during job interviews. It can be said for founders in front of investors. It can most certainly be said for anyone trying to sell in the classic sense as well. Our Takeaways: 😬 Many of us know that most instances of selling are short, pressured moments of impression formation and rapid relationship building. 😄 Many of us know to practice, practice, practice our content. 😕 Whether these pitches are happening on video, or in-person, the way we deliver our pitch, from the second we show up live, to the very end and sign off, is practiced much less. In a world that is so intensely competitive, it is crucial to own as much of your delivery as possible. Nonverbal communication and body language awareness is the first step in this equation. Intentionally pairing our nonverbals to what we say, is the next. Have a question for us? Email us at support@virtualsapiens-cbgycehwg9f5e4ac.centralus-01.azurewebsites.net
The Tell-Tale Signals You’ve Lost Your Audience on Video
There is a lot going on in video meetings. Particularly for multi-participants meetings, where people are presenting, taking polls and more, it can feel like you are juggling 10 balls at a time…and still have no idea of whether and when people are engaged with what you are sharing. Video conferencing technology tends to make it even more difficult to read the virtual room. While we are working on technology that will support meeting presenters and facilitators when it comes to understanding engagement virtually, it’s helpful to know what to look for ourselves. In this week’s AMA with Dr. Marono, we answered the question: What are the tell-tale nonverbal cues that can signal that your audience is disengaged/not listening? This is one of the golden powers of video. If you can tell when your audience is with you, and when they are not, you can greatly increase you impact as a virtual communicator. This is knowledge that can elevate professionals in today’s evolving world of work. Check out the video below to hear Dr. Marono and my thoughts on things you can look out for during your next video meeting: Virtual Sapiens is working on technology to fill this important and missing communication loop – and our current products are already helping you ensure you are sending the messages you intend to.
Video As a ‘Need To Have’
So many future of work companies (including yours truly ) sprouted up during the pandemic. When it comes to spotting trends related to video, I wanted to speak with someone who has been on the video bandwagon prior to the pandemic… So I got on a call with Chad Lakin of Shootsta to hear what he had to say about where video is headed, and how we can think about leveraging video effectively as part of our communication strategy. Here are the key takeaways – I highly recommend giving our conversation a watch: The role of video is expanding – from a ‘nice to have’, to a ‘need to have’ Video allows for a humanistic experience and connection – particularly for distributed teams Don’t lose your audience with ‘video overkill’ – be strategic about when you leverage asynchronous video When it comes to developing a comfortable and confident impression on video – you need to put in the reps. This last point in particular bears repeating…many professionals may expect to be able to simply show up on video as they would in person, without realizing that this is a fundamentally different channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ68hrvacDc Video communication presence, and skills require practice. They require specific feedback, and effort in turning new skills into new muscle memory. We recommend our assessment and Sidekick tools to any professional who relies on video to communicate. And you an try them both out for free!
How Technology Has Evolved To Support Better Communication
It is interesting to look at how technology has evolved to support better communication in general, and over video, in particular. As Dr. Marono mentions in our short conversation on the topic, the importance of nonverbals has actually blossomed during the pandemic. It can appear almost ironic, but removing our ability to see a full person IRL when we communicate important messages has made us all acutely aware of just how important those cues are. Of course, the main driver behind much of the innovation around remote communication has been the loss of this in person connection. Again, ironically, we have discovered a new channel of human communication, one which in fact does celebrate and leverage the nonverbals of important conversations. It is because of this potential that we see so much innovation in this space, whether it’s the work we are doing at Virtual Sapiens, or the work of so many other notable startups and major companies. We have identified a trend of the future – and we are here to improve our ability to communicate, connect, and drive positive impact via new means. Check out our discussion on the topic below: https://youtu.be/QBGwm_IgtPw Have a question? We will be hosting these recorded, AMA once a quarter, reach out to us on Twitter (@vsapiens_ai) to ask yours now!
How to Achieve and Perceive Authenticity With Nonverbals
There’s a reason habit breaking and habit building are such tricky endeavors. Particularly in the world of communication, we often struggle between honing our communication skills, and feeling authentic. Speaking from my experience as a professional ballet dancer and athlete, I can share that building new habits and strengthening new muscles can often feel uncomfortable, difficult, unnatural. But that is what growth is all about. If we are not willing to put ourselves out of our comfort zones, to try out new models, new movements, new vocabulary, we will never have the benefits of discovering new ways to communicate with even more impact. As usual with communication, and nonverbal communication in particular, the questions we ask of ourselves, can often be reflected onto others. For instance, how can I ensure I am coming across with authenticity leads to the question: How can I tell if someone is communicating with authenticity? In this video, Dr. Marono and I take the time to discuss how you can explore new pathways of communication, while staying true to your authentic self. Understanding this question first, is key to then understanding how you can perceive authenticity, and inauthenticity, in others.