Dear influencer,
I'm glad you found this page. Or someone has forwarded it to you because they want you to improve too. Today you will have a choice to dramatically improve the way you show up for virtual meetings. And, you will be able to command influence, make a contribution or help someone improve during any virtual meeting you show up.
My name is Doug Devitre, a Certified Speaking Professional designated by the National Speakers Association and commercially published author of Screen to Screen Selling, a book that I have been told was ahead of its time. It wasn't until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, business had fundamentally changed. In some areas it was illegal to conduct business in person. You would either be fined or jailed. How is that for some motivation for you? You needed to figure out how you were going to have meaningful conversations by video meetings, provide the best type of help given the circumstance, and learn how to make the most out of the technology you already had.
You see some people use virtual backgrounds and narrate PowerPoint presentations. I hope you are not one of them. That is definitely one way to conduct business but it isn't the best. That is probably one of the most boring, off-putting, and wasteful uses of someone's time. If you want to really engage participants in a meaningful way, they you must have a NEW set of skills that complement the virtual environment and add to your existing communication and leadership toolbox.
In the Internet minute you really only have a few seconds to engage someone in a virtual conversation or presentation. Because if you don't then that person will be off checking their text messages, email, Facebook notifications, and find a shinier object to pass their time. You could totally lose someone because they closed their laptop and found a more meaningful way to spend their time. Are you willing to take that risk by showing up as a talking head?
We are at the intersection of urgency around technical skills and talent management. You can't just be show up and throw up presenter. You have to master the technology that comes with it in the virtual environment. Now. No more excuses. You can't afford not to anymore. You don't need another designation or certification. You need some virtual survival skills that are going to lead you and your people into the future. As you continue to read this six month virtual bootcamp agenda, I want you to think about how many more people you could reach, how many more people you could help, and how much fun you could be having by doing it with the right approach without the technology or the excuses getting in the way.
Your friend,
Doug Devitre, CSP