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.
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.
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.