Great talks don’t happen by accident. They are the result of small, deliberate choices. I made a checklist for me that could be useful for someone else, so I’m sharing it. I guess it’ll need some adjustments to work for other people, so feel welcomed and encouraged to use it as a starting point, appropriate it, reuse and repurpose it, complete the list, and reshare to pass the karma 🙂
Technical. Before anything else, fix the basics.
[ ] Good lighting lets people see your face clearly, and that matters more than any clever slide.
[ ] Watch for glasses glare: a tiny tilt of the head or moving the light source can turn a distraction into connection.
[ ] You don’t need it to be blurred, but you must be intentional with the background. Be aware it’s delivering a message and act in consequence, but ensure the backgound is not distracting your audience.
Delivery & energy
[ ] Audience can feel our nervous system. Ground your energy before you start: breathe, plant your feet, slow down.
[ ] Fill the frame with your presence instead of hiding in a corner of the camera.
[ ] Use simple, intentional gestures to connect instead of random movements. Practice them.
Delivery & authenticity
[ ] The most advanced trick is not a trick at all: be genuine, be you, speak with authenticity.
[ ] Let your tone and emotional state match your message, not a generic “presenter voice”. Allow you to feel excited, sad or interested depending on what you’re talking about.
[ ] You don’t need to over act but you can be vulnerable when it makes sense. For instance, when you are tired, say it briefly and then invite people into your world: “I’m tired… but this matters to me, and here’s why.” ==> This converts a problem into an opportunity to connect
Practicing (success is made out of practice)
Connection is a muscle, not a gift. The goal is not perfection; it is to keep the muscle sharp so that, when it counts, you can simply show up and be human. Set up tiny practice activities:
[ ] Record one-minute clips.
[ ] Rehearse an opening with a friend.
[ ] Debrief a meeting just on “how did I show up on camera?”
[ ] …
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