Scientists agree that our world is a world of words and articulated speech is the most specific and characteristic feature of the human species. It is through words that we have been communicating various kinds of content and messages to each other since the dawn of time.

The importance of words is well known to professional speakers, who perform at conferences and events - including those hosted online. However, we often forget that audiences consume speeches not only by hearing, but also by sight and non-verbal communication can effectively affect the strength and quality of our message. What gestures and behaviors are worth paying attention to during online speeches? And how to use your body language to make the messages we convey even more vivid to our audience?

Eye contact

Online events differ from stationary events primarily in how the speaker maintains eye contact with the audience. When we perform on stage at a stationary event, we usually try to cover everyone present with our eyes or catch a few seconds of eye contact with some individuals.

During an online event, it is completely different, because the participant has a screen in front of their eyes where they sees only us, so they often do not feel the presence of other viewers at all. For this reason, we should look directly into the camera for 80-90% of the time of our speech, which will give the viewer the impression that we are looking straight into their eyes, and on top of that, it will reinforce the power of our message. Looking straight into the lens should especially be remembered by those who use presentations or multimedia files and glance at the monitor screen during the speech.

Head movements and facial expressions

When speaking at online events, we must remember that a good portion of our camera frame will be occupied by our head and face, so it is the non-verbal messages they send that will be most visible to the audience. Gently nodding your head in acknowledgement or turning an ear when another speaker speaks are behaviors that say "I'm listening, you have my attention." Likewise, a slight tilt of the head to the side is often a sign of active listening and analysis of the messages that are being received.

Our facial expressions can say similar things about us. If we are heavily involved in communicating some content, we usually have raised eyebrows and a smile is painted on our lips. To reinforce your message, it's a good idea to make sure your facial expressions are dynamic, because the same impassive face gives the impression of boredom and discourages the audience from listening carefully. Dynamic facial expressions such as raised eyebrows are also a signal of active listening and interest. It is worth keeping this in mind when giving the floor to other speakers.

Posture

An upright posture signifies strength and confidence, while a hunched posture suggests a lack of such confidence or doubt. So when speaking at a virtual event, try to maintain a straight back, so that your messages will reach the audience more effectively. It's also important to position ourselves at an appropriate distance from the camera. Leaning forward, which expresses interest during a face-to-face conversation, is not the best idea during an online event, as this will make us poorly visible in the frame. Likewise, having too loose a posture and leaning against a chair can suggest our boredom or fatigue. It's also worth remembering not to intertwine our legs, as this adversely affects straight posture.

Gestures

Not every speaker uses gestures during their online speeches, which is a pity, because they can effectively reinforce any message. If you decide to use them, first of all, you must remember to sit at the right distance from the lens and keep your hands in such a position that they are clearly visible in the frame. Less sweeping gestures that do not go out of frame and that will be displayed smoothly by devices with slower internet, where image stuttering can occur, will work best. When we gesture, it's a good idea to remember to uncross our arms from our torso so we avoid looking stressed. Also, remember not to support your face with your hands, as this can not only signal boredom, fatigue and lack of commitment, but also make you speak unclearly and not understandably.

Speeches at an in-person event usually have a closing element, which can be, for example, a handshake by the presenter. Since online events don't offer such an option, it's worth thinking about a simple farewell gesture at the end - for example, raising your hand goodbye or waving it.

What else is worth keeping in mind?

Proper placement of the camera before a speech has a huge impact on how the audience will perceive us. The camera should be at our eye level, so it's worth getting a separate camera or a special laptop stand. Otherwise, we will be seen in the frame from the so-called "frog perspective" (the camera will be below our line of sight), which will distort the image of our body and make our hands appear disproportionately large when gesticulating, for example.

It is a good idea to record a rehearsal speech and analyze it in terms of our facial expressions and behavior. We are then able to catch any irregularities or, for example, movements that signal stress - scratching our noses or frequently fixing our hair.

Online events show only what fits within the frame of our camera, so we do not need to pay as much attention to, for example, foot stomping, which the camera is unlikely to cover. Keep in mind, however, that every viewer will see us just as closely, so unpleasant facial expressions or inappropriate posture will be just as visible to everyone.

Well, and most importantly - let's be aware that our body language will not always be 100% perfect. However, let's not be discouraged and try to keep in mind its various aspects, because it is practice that makes perfect and allows us to deliver even better speeches that will gain us a wide range of engaged participants.