“Virtual meetings start badly. And then they get worse”
That’s definitely true.
But then so’s this:
“When meetings start well, they tend to be good”
Which means – and I know this is an over-simplification (but not much)…
… Your start dictates how successful your meeting will be.
So start with a BANG, not a whimper.
To nail this, only two things matter – the WHAT and the HOW:
- WHAT. Before you start, be clear WHAT you’ll say in your first 1-2 sentences. Make it sound exciting, relevant, interesting. Be clear on the benefits to them of attending
- HOW. Deliver your start in an engaging way. Speak with passion. Smile. Look straight at the camera. Lean forwards. Raise your voice slightly…
… all easy stuff.
But also all-too-easily forgotten.
This is one of my favourite Tips.
Because it causes maximum impact for minimum effort!
After all, it only takes a couple of minutes to work out WHAT you’ll say. And, as for HOW you’ll say it… well, you were speaking anyway – so it doesn’t take any longer!
Action Point
- For your next virtual meeting, nail the WHAT and HOW. Win them then, and you’ll win them overall
- To master three simple ways to be interesting throughout your meeting, watch – for free – video 4 of month 4 here