Cultivating leadership presence online

Apr 13 / Ian Higginbottom

If you fail to consciously choose a powerful leadership presence online you will fade into the digital background or worse, subtly lead your colleagues off-track.

In online meetings and events do you ever:
  • Read your emails and try to appear attentive by looking towards the camera?
  • Assume no one will notice if you send PMS or scroll your Insta feed? 
  • Work on another task while keeping one ear on the conversation? 
  • Slump in your chair like you're on the couch watching a movie? 
Your presence impacts the effectiveness of any meeting you are in, and, it impacts your leadership brand.  
To help you cultivate a positive leadership brand online, spend some time thinking about the following questions and guidelines.  They will help you to decide whether you should even attend a meeting, and if so, how you can show up in the most effective way.

Pre-meeting questions

  • What is the purpose of the meeting; is there a better way to achieve the purpose? 
  • What will you contribute to or get from the meeting?
  • Is the meeting the most valuable use of your time?
  • What preparation is required and when will you do it?
  • Based on your past experience, could you make any requests, offers, or declarations to improve the meeting?

  • Appearance

  • Choose your clothing
  • Choose or design your video background
  • Evenly light your face and avoid strong backlighting
  • Sit close enough to the camera – do not disappear into the background
  • Take care if you eat – the camera and microphone will amplify the experience

Gravitas   
             

  • Turn on your video screen 
  • Actively 'get present' and 'centre' yourself just before the meeting
  • Choose your posture and bodily disposition
  • Remember the power of silent gravitas: you influence everyone in the virtual room through how you show up 
  • Choose your mood 
  • Invest in a high quality microphone to enhance your voice quality

Communicate

  • Be on time
  • Listen purposefully and intently
  • Know your stuff - preparation trumps confidence
  • Have simple, clear and impactful slides and visuals
  • Shutdown online distractions
Before your next online meeting, consider these questions and guidelines.

What will you do to enhance your leadership presence online?