I’ll never forget the end of February 2020.
I was over in the US, working with a few clients, and I clearly remember being in one of their head offices in New York when a leader pulled me aside and said, “Cyril, COVID is happening. You’re probably one of the last people allowed in our office.”
The next day I flew to Boston, and when I arrived, my client there said, “You’re still running the training – but from a laptop, in a room, on your own.” Even though we were all in Boston, the team had to dial in from home.
That Friday, I was meant to head to Europe for a full week of training. But after a call with my wife, TK, who said, “Cyril, get the hell out of there – the world is shutting down,” I changed my plans. My European clients agreed to move everything online, so I flew home to Australia and kicked off four days of training… in the middle of the night, from my desk. Absolute madness.
In this video, I want to share a few things I’ve learned that can make a big difference in your online meetings.
1. Good gear makes a big difference
You don’t need to go all out, but having a decent webcam and microphone makes a huge difference. I use a professional mic that cost me about $100 – less than a flight interstate – and the sound quality is night and day. Even a solid external webcam can do wonders compared to your laptop camera.
2. Know your platform
Whether it’s Zoom, Teams, Webex or Google Meet – get comfortable with the tools. Know how to share your screen and your sound. Learn how to use breakout rooms, spotlight speakers, and manage the view settings. A quick run-through or short tutorial for your team can save a lot of awkward fumbling mid-meeting.
3. Crank up the energy
This one’s big. Online meetings naturally suck a bit of energy out of the room, so you’ve got to bring more than usual. I’ve found I need 20–40% more energy when I’m presenting online. That means keeping the camera on (please!), being animated, having a laugh, and even playing a bit of music. It keeps things upbeat and helps people stay switched on.
What happened next? A year after the madness of 2020, one of my clients said something that really stuck with me: “The feedback on your online training is just as good as the in-person stuff.” That was great to hear.
They then asked me to run a session for their learning & development team, to show them exactly what I was doing. It was a great reminder that with a few simple changes, online meetings can be just as impactful.
So, my question to you is: Have you taken the time to think about how to make your online meetings as engaging as your face-to-face ones?
This is this week’s Work Smarter: Live Better tip.
Hope you have a lovely day!
A bientôt,
Cyril
