Conveying Trustworthiness with Open Palms
Hand gestures on video has become a hot topic. In this article, I shared the main reasons using hand gestures can feel awkward…and also some reasons behind why developing a hand gesture vocabulary is so compelling. Another reason is highlighted by Christina Brady, CRO at Sales Assembly in this post on LinkedIn. It’s easy for our hands to ‘creep’ – our hands look for our phone, they look to click on some tabs, check out email etc. When we are doing other things and appear distracted on video, the other person can easily think we simply don’t care about what they have to say…or their time. One way to ensure your audience knows you are listening and fully present, is to show them your hands. As Brady says: “Verbal and non verbal cues that say “you have my attention” are more important than ever. When your hands are in the frame, they can’t be slacking. They can’t be replying to an email or searching the web.” So we asked Dr. Abbie Marono to share a bit more detail around this nonverbal, and how we can start to think about conveying trustworthiness, and active listening via hand gestures on video. https://youtu.be/FTa4QwccIwY Video requires a refined approach to nonverbal communication. We must be even more aware of what our audience might be experiencing on video, and do everything within our power to ensure the minutes on video are not wasted. Incorporating hand gestures thoughtfully is one new skill to consider – your Sidekick can help remind you during calls too:)
Yes! You Can, and Should, Use Hand Gestures on Zoom
One of our user’s recently shared an important realization from their Virtual Presence Assessment experience. Here it is paraphrased below: “I didn’t realize I could use hand gestures on zoom…or that they could add such value to my virtual communication.” This professional is not alone – quite a few professionals have shared similar sentiments. There are a few reasons why professionals often don’t use hand gestures on video: They feel awkward Don’t know what to do with their hands Don’t realize that their hand gestures are not getting picked up by the lens May have gotten feedback not to use hand gestures because the are ‘distracting’ Hand gestures are a very human element in our communication. Hand gestures help build trust and they help add nuance to what we are saying. Our audience benefit more from a speaker who leverages all aspects of their communication toolkit in a way that is aligned with what they are saying. Necessarily, this must include effective use of hand gestures. Check out the 1 minute video below to hear more about how you can effectively build a hand gesture vocabulary, to increase the efficacy of your time on video. Our Sidekick can act as a helpful reminder on when you have been speaking, and not using your hand gestures effectively. Install your free trial and see for yourself on your next video call!
Debunking Body Language Myths
Nonverbal communication is a largely misunderstood area. While a powerful and essential component of communication and relationship building, it is not a magic wand. Check out this recent round up on Psychology Today, of the top ten body language myths from Joe Navarro and our very own behavioral science expert advisor at Virtual Sapiens, Dr. Abbie Maroño, PhD. My number one message to everyone when discussing body language, is that self-awareness always comes first. Be first aware of your own tendencies, understand them, and decide whether or not they are serving you. The very reason we started our Virtual Sapiens Sidekick with a user focus, as opposed to a broader focus on audience engagement, is because of the power we can tap into through our own self-awareness. When assessing other people, remember that context is king and a single behavior rarely leads to a sound judgement, but rather, to more insightful questions asked and overall deeper relationship building.
Facial Expressions and Building Trust on Video
It is easy to disengage on video – and easier still to forget that we can be seen on video, even when we are not the active speaker. Research shows that having a ‘poker’ face on video, whether intentional or not, decreases our ability to build trusting relationships and makes it hard to effectively collaborate. As was mentioned in a discussion here on LinkedIn this week, our facial expressions can greatly enhance rapport on video. There are a few reasons for this: Actively demonstrating you are engaged, alert, paying attention via your facial expressions – helps your fellow video participants ‘see’ that you are following on and digesting the call activity. Particularly when you are the listener, the speaker is more likely to trust that your reply/interaction takes their account into consideration – that you are a true partner on the call. Since we can lose other signals like taking notes, ‘mm-ing’ and ‘ah-ing’ (due to being on mute), showing how we may be considering other people on video is a necessary component to a dynamic conversation. A big caveat here…we do want to be sure our expressions are aligned with what we want to express, that is to say, with our intention. If we spend the whole time smiling, when really we are confused, it will come as a shock to the others on the call when we don’t behave as they would anticipate based on our nonverbals. As always, awareness is key in this equation. For many people, ‘frozen face’ is very common on video and we have to actively remind ourselves to keep our facial expressions engaged, active and in line with our intentions. This is in fact, the main goal of the Sidekick in-call nudges for facial expressions. If our Sidekick perceives you have been neutral in your facial expression for a period of time, it will send you a gentle, visual nudge reminding you to show you are still part of the virtual room. Check out your Sidekick in an upcoming call and see how you do when it comes to facial expression variation!
Impression Management on Video
Impression management is a core component of what we aim to teach at Virtual Sapiens. The way we have designed both in-call nudges and post-call insights is around the various ways in which your audience can perceive you based on your nonverbal behaviors. The three main perception themes are: Perceived Trustworthiness Authority Impression Energy and Expression Perceived Trustworthiness Conveying trustworthiness is one of the most important elements of impactful communication. After all, if someone doesn’t trust you, it’s unlikely they will listen or allow themselves to be influenced by you. According to Dr. Abbie Maroño, Advisor at Virtual Sapiens: “Judgements of trustworthiness are one of the first judgments we make about a person, this is highly automatic and unconscious. We make these judgments in less than a second of seeing a person’s face, and before any verbal interaction has taken place. Judgements of trustworthiness are also made prior to any judgment of confidence, competence, or likability, so as important as these judgements are, we should first focus on how we can appear trustworthy”. Your Sidekick has been designed to help you exhibit markers of trust from a nonverbal communication perspective. This translates to the following metrics: Expression of emotion (Facial expressions and active listening cues) Eye gaze (screen) Hand gestures Check out the video below from Dr. Abbie Marono, on why it is imperative to be aware of, and to develop these markers of trust, from the very first moment and onwards. https://youtu.be/ZUGXrLcKK10 Authority Impression When it comes to Authority Impression, we focus on: Posture Active eye gaze Face Touching Check out the video below on the specific nudges that fall under the category of Authority Impression, and how you can begin to think about leveraging these nonverbal cues to have the effect you want as a professional on video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr6iqwtCIgQ Energy and Expression The third communication theme at play in the Sidekick is Energy and Expression. This is a category that is very much centered on two things: Alignment between intention and expression Variation in dynamics Engaging meetings all have these two things in common. Whether in-person or virtual, when the speaker(s) is expressing themself congruently with a clearly established intention, the results are much more impactful. Similarly, an engaging speaker understands how to emphasize different points in a given presentation, or discussion with different facial expressions, hand gestures, postures and certain vocal cues. Your Virtual Sapiens Sidekick pays special attention to the perceived energy and expression levels you are generating on any given call. This translates to the following metrics: Facial expression dynamics Posture Face touching (emphasis on head in hand posture) Hand gestures Check out the video below for more on how you can think about ensuring your presence is supported by aligned energy and expression. https://youtu.be/c-jlAQILmO4 Keep in mind, these same nonverbal cues apply for in-person conversations as well! Particularly given the new ‘Power Skills’ for leadership and C-Suite positions as defined by Harvard Business Review, the Sidekick is here to provide the crucial feedback towards unlocking your professional superhero qualities. Having a Sidekick at your disposal is key to always be improving.
The C-Suite Skills That Matter Most
Looking at trends in C-Suite position searches and the most relevant skills, it is refreshing to see a shift towards ‘social skills’. As defined in this recent article by Harvard Business Review: “When we refer to “social skills,” we mean certain specific capabilities, including a high level of self-awareness, the ability to listen and communicate well, a facility for working with different types of people and groups, and what psychologists call “theory of mind”—the capacity to infer how others are thinking and feeling.” The topic of self-awareness is of particular interest to us at Virtual Sapiens as it is one of the first things our users notice improving while using our in-call Sidekick for feedback on their virtual presence. Self-awareness is developed through feedback. Getting feedback consistently, especially in a virtual environment, is a gap in many professionals’ continued development. Given these are the skills that are increasingly being attributed to strong leadership and C-suite positions, tools that provide quality feedback with a focus on communication must be leveraged. Read the full article on HBR here.
Special Guest Interview with Alicia Berruti – BombBomb
We tend to view video meetings as a reality of the pandemic. However, video as a tool for communicating in the workplace, was around long before the Pandemic simply accelerated this trend. BombBomb, an asynchronous video messaging platform, has been a champion of the power of video since 1998! You can imagine my delight in getting to sit down with BombBomb National Speaker Alicia Berruti to get her take on the real power of video moving forward and how to get comfortable being yourself on video. Check it out:) https://youtu.be/V-rS6ZN1XJ8
Special Guest Post – 4 Tips for Hosting Virtual Events People Actually Want to Attend
A special welcome to Meisha Bochicchio, Senior Content Marketing Manager at Goldcast! We are thrilled to have her advice on how to host a virtual event people actually want to attend:) —- When’s the last time you attended a virtual presentation or event? This week? Maybe even today? Virtual events are now ubiquitous in the business world. Whether you’re hosting an internal kickoff for employees or a virtual conference for your industry, knowing how to capture and keep an audience’s attention is critical. But in a world of overflowing inboxes and crowded social feeds, how can you break through the noise? And how can you make sure your event registrants actually turn into event attendees? If these struggles resonate, you’re in luck. We’ve got four quick tips for hosting virtual events people actually want to attend. Tip #1. Get people excited before the event If you wait until the day of your event to light the fire, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity! Most professionals are overwhelmed with priorities and distractions. Getting them to click on your event when the time rolls around is going to take some effort—but don’t let that scare you. Here are three ways you can build excitement before your virtual event: Video invite: Have your event host, or a speaker, record a short event invite video that you can use across email and social media. It doesn’t need to be fancy—even a simple talking-head style video will work wonders. Calendar hold: The best way to keep your event top-of-mind? Use a registration platform that automatically places a hold on the registrant’s calendar. That way, it’s harder for scheduling conflicts to arise, and they see it every time they open their calendar. Reminder emails: Reminder emails are a critical tool for getting registrants into an event. But boring reminder emails are a dime a dozen. Keep reminder emails simple but give folks a reason to open them. Tease new speakers or sessions, host a pre-event giveaway contest, or include a few of those video invites we just mentioned to get folks excited for the big day. Tip #2. Go live feeling energized and confident A good presenter should capture attention early and get folks excited for what’s to come! The first few seconds of your virtual presentation are key. If your speaker falls flat, you could quickly lose the attention of viewers, which can impact engagement, and even time, spent with your session. We appreciate that presenting can be nerve-wracking. And many folks that get roped into presenting might not love the idea of being on-camera or getting in front of a crowd. Or, they are super passionate about the topic but aren’t seasoned presenters—yet. Help your hosts and speakers shake off the jitters and boost their confidence with a little virtual training before your event. Tools like Virtual Sapiens can help with just that! Their handy sidekick is like a virtual coach that helps speakers improve their presenting skills. The tool checks things like video setup to ensure optimal presenting conditions, body language so that speakers connect with the audience, and vocal cues to deliver talk tracks with energy and confidence. A small investment in virtual coaching can dramatically improve event performance. Plus, you’re investing not just in your event but also in your team, helping them feel more confident during all of their virtual presentations. Tip #3. Ditch the slides—try different content formats Just because you’re hosting a virtual event or webinar doesn’t mean you’re constrained to the “traditional” presentation format. While slides can be helpful, especially for demonstrating concepts that require visuals, there are so many other options! Pre-recorded video content and audio clips are great ways to add variety and interest to presentations without the dreaded “slide wall.” Switching between content formats also keeps attendees on their toes and adds structure to different sections. For example, you might have a fireside chat intro, a few slides to set the scene, a poll to get a pulse check on what attendees think, some video content to showcase examples, and then end with another chat to bring everything home. If you do use different formats, try keeping each section to 10 minutes or less to break up the monotony and re-engage the audience. Just be mindful not to go overboard with too much back and forth. Context switching can overwhelm your audience and cause them to lose focus. When in double, keep it simple, and choose just a few formats to use during your presentation. Speaking of engagement… Tip #4. Engage the audience throughout the presentation More than just a buzzword, event engagement is critical for keeping your audience active during presentations. Start with an interactive icebreaker to get folks engaged early. Try throwing out a question related to the event session. Or, keep it super light by sharing fun facts about the speakers in a “two truths and a lie” format. Be sure to remind attendees that you want to hear from them. Invite them to participate in the chat, and be sure you have someone monitoring and responding to comments. You could also invite folks to join you on stage for a live video Q&A if your event platform supports it. If your session allows, prompt the audience for direct feedback. For example, you could host a mini-brainstorm session using audience ideas. Finally, consider gamifying engagement. Gamification incentivizes attendees to become active participants in your event. This often involves game-like features, like earning points for completing activities and a leaderboard. There are usually prizes or giveaways involved for the most active participants. — Hungry for more? Check out these tips for at-home virtual event speakers for more pointers on prepping your event crew.
Special Guest Interview – Tips For At-Home Virtual Event Speakers
In our first special guest interview our CEO, Rachel Cossar, speaks with Mia Masson, Head of Content at Swapcard. At Virtual Sapiens, we are all about helping professionals get the most out of their virtual meetings and events. What we love about Swapcard, is their dedication to providing audiences across the globe with the highest level impact event experience with a special focus on at-home audiences. As we are seeing the virtual component continue to embed itself within our future, it is crucial to think about how we can make virtual events feel more real for at-home audiences and as at-home presenters. Check out the two short videos where Mia shares her thoughts. Question 1: With so many virtual events feeling ‘the same’, what can we do to make our virtual meeting or event pop? Key Takeaways: Have a dedicated Emcee for your digital audience Tailor content to create a a VIP viewing experience If you can swing it…send out some SWAG! Question 2: What can at-home presenters do to both show up professionally, without it feeling over-produced? Ket Takeaways: Remember you are speaking at this event for a reason! Be yourself and don’t be afraid to have a ‘human moment’ Of course – structure your content clearly and with concrete takeaways A HUGE thank you to Mia for her time and sharing her expertise with us. Please check out Swapcard for any of your ‘smart event’ needs!
Where To Look, And When, On Video
One of the hardest habits to rewire when it comes to connecting over video, is where to look…and when. While many of us know we should look into the lens, the crucial detail we often neglect is the core difference between whether you are the active speaker, or not. The golden rule for eye gaze on video (and the way we have built our eye gaze thresholds at Virtual Sapiens) is: 👀 Look into the lens when you are the active speaker. 👀 Look at the screen (and yes, this can be at the other participants!) when you are the active listener. The reasons behind this logic are simple, and backed by nonverbal and neurological research recently confirmed by Stanford University’s Virtual Interactive Lab. Our eye gaze is a core nonverbal cue we depend upon as humans when it comes to understanding someone’s intent and emotional state. We look to someone’s eye gaze to determine trust – a HUGELY important factor in professional conversations. On video, if we are the active speaker, that is to say, we are the one who is sharing information, we have an imperative to clearly share the fullest impact of our message. On video, the best way to do this, is to look into the lens when talking. Since the lens aligns with the audience’s perspective, we can ensure our audience is seeing all that we have to offer as a communicator in that moment. In this way, we can more easily share confidence, we can share happiness, sadness and even anger. Conversely, if we are speaking and looking at someone’s image on the screen (especially if the direction of our eyes is downcast, or off to the side), we appear distant from our message. Our audience gets a less direct, less accurate and more scattered representation of how we may feel about a certain message. On video, we do not want to leave any room for uncertainty if we can help it. Looking into the lens when we are the active speaker helps us get our message across with more impact. Now, if you are an active listener, that is, not the one speaking in a given moment, you can feel free to look at your screen and the person who is speaking. This helps you better digest their message, especially if they are themselves looking into the lens (Which they should be). Two important things to note: If you are the active speaker, do not stare, unblinkingly into the lens. In short, this comes across as unsettling, and creepy. It is too intense an experience for the viewer, so be sure to keep your blink rate natural If you are listening, ensure your participants faces are as centered and close to the lens as possible. This allows the speakers in the group to feel more heard and seen when talking since you won’t be looking completely off to the side. Again, this can produce an unsettling feeling for others on the call. Although this all may sound unatural at first glance, the effects are incredibly powerful. When a speaker looks directly into the lens, as an audience, we feel seen. As a speaker, you can know that your message is landing with the utmost impact. By using Virtual Sapiens Sidekick, you can train yourself to look into the lens appropriately with our updated nudges:) Try it out for yourself today!