Communicating Online Required for Effective Speaking

In-person meetings are expensive. For in-person meetings, you need to arrange for a hall, travel, accommodation as well as food and beverages for attendees. According to a study done by VerizonBusiness.com, meeting for five people conducted in person is almost seven times more expensive than conducting a remote meeting for the same group.

Hence there is a growing trend of remote and e-meet. Virtual meetings are becoming inherently important and therefore you should be well acquainted with the online communication channels. Also, it is significantly important to learn the protocols and etiquettes for virtual meetings.

In this segment, Rakesh will guide you through all the tips and practices for the same. Let's get started.

You are now well acquainted with the dos and don'ts of online communication. Let's quickly summarise them for you:

• Follow these suggestions for better online communication:
  • Choose a clean place with little to no noise for a video call. An aesthetically pleasing background is just as important as the delivery. 
  • In case you are unable to find a proper background, use virtual backgrounds.
  • In online communication, bandwidth issues are common. Therefore, it is important to keep a backup for glitches.
• Be mindful of the fundamentals of oral communication, both verbal and non-verbal.
• Keep in mind the elements of verbal communication: 
  • Voice: You should be audible to others yet not so loud that it is perceived as yelling.
  • Speed: Maintain a good rate of speech so that others can easily absorb what you are saying. As a general guideline, 140 words a minute is clear enough for everyone to understand. 
  • Tone: Maintain a respectful and gentle tone.
  • Pauses: Take appropriate pauses.
• Also, remember the non-verbal elements: 
  • Eyes: Maintain appropriate eye contact during online conversations.
  • Face: Keep a pleasant smile on your face.
  • Hands: Your hand movements and gestures should complement your speech.
  • Body language: Your body language should exude confidence and interest in communication.
• As mentioned in the video, actions have a greater impact on people than words. A study suggests that your non-verbal or body language impacts the person more than your verbal talk.
• Online communication is harder because you are confined to one place, have to share the screen simultaneously during presentations and need to speak clearly in a gentle voice.

By following the aforementioned tips and tricks, you will surely be able to get better at online communication. It is only a matter of practice.