When I decided to create an online course way back in 2018, I knew I had a lot of information and strategies to share with the folks who would join my course. I also knew I could organize and present this material in a logical, easy to implement manner. I wanted everyone who bought my lessons to benefit from their purchase and to get maximum value.
What I didn’t know was how to deliver this material to them.
I soon settled on a combination of video, audio files and transcripts plus numerous worksheets to allow them to process their particular contents in their own way and create great presentations.
But I still had a roadblock – I had little experience on camera.
I was very comfortable in-person before any size group. I could connect. I could be confident, humorous and empathetic. I could deliver what I call a WOW experience. I knew how to do all that stuff pretty well. What I didn’t know was video.
So, I got a camera and shot myself. A lot.
The first 50 videos were horrible. The next 50 not quite so bad. And so on.
I videoed and then watched. And I would edit them — which is like watching them on steroids. You see everything when you edit.
The things a hated in my looks, my mannerisms, my inflections, etc. I fixed or minimized.
Some things that initially bothered me I soon realized were part of me and I began to accept my peculiarities.
This is a long way of saying I got good at and comfortable with being on video. I shot over 250 videos to get the 50 or so that are in my course. Many of the culls were horrible but valuable. They taught me a lot.
I became confident, conversational and real.
This is how YOU will get better on Zoom or GoToMeeting or any other platform.
Start today. Open Zoom or whatever. Record your presentation or a part of it. You don’t need to share it with anyone. Make it as real as possible. Then watch it (this is the important part). Do a debrief. Make notes – what did you like? What did you hate? What can you do to improve it?
And then tomorrow, record it again. And again. And again.
You will get better. Much better.
Then start to share with a trusted buddy. Find someone you know to be honest but not too rough. You watch them – they watch you. You can trade ideas and notes and you will both be amazing.
And if our current duck and cover routine remains for any length of time you will be an online rockstar presenter by the time this is all over.
Your career will skyrocket. The online presentation groupies will flock to you. You will motivate and connect and sell.
Getting good as an online presenter will be an absolute superpower when we all get back to work. And you can do this. Introvert. Extrovert. Any vert you are. Everyone of us can get way better.
And here is the little secret we all know: everyone sucks at this right now. Just watch any online meeting or presentation. Everyone is terrible. The bar is set so low. You will be able to totally smoke your competition when this is all over.
Especially the whiny guy in the next cubicle. Think how much fun it will be to leave him in your dust.
So, start now. Put on a nice top or shirt. Keep the PJ bottoms — no one will know. And get going. You are going to be amazing.
Stay well and prosper. OK???
Tom
P.S. I actually have a day job. I help people supercharge their presentations online or in-person. If you want to get really, really good at this thing, I can help you get there.
Let’s talk. I offer a free 45-minute discovery call. It’s all about you and how you can become a much more effective communicator whether it’s online or in-person.
