Home office, video-conferencing, children at home... The current health crisis has completely changed the way we work. But how do you communicate effectively with your colleagues at a distance and succeed in motivating your teams? "There are tools and techniques for these," explains Marie Stephenson, an executive coach who is an expert in the field and is one of Cala Consulting’s partners. About thirty members of the Cala Learning Hub network were present that day, all very interested in the subject.

5 tips to improve your remote communication

When you're talking on Zoom or Teams, for example, the conditions are not always ideal. Between the distractions around you, technical problems or the stress before a presentation, it is not always easy to concentrate and get the messages you want across. To remedy this, Marie Stephenson has identified 5 top tips for effective communication in a virtual environment.

Share persuasive and motivational messages

This is the foundation of effective communication at a distance: focus on the key messages you want to get across and what will motivate your teams and give them confidence.

Make your content attractive and concise

A presentation, for example, will be more interesting and captivating if you use the "story telling" technique. In other words, if you try to tell a story or anecdotes or present surprising figures... In short, anything that holds the audience's attention! The structure of the presentation is also essential, with a clearly defined plan and slides that are not too full and that have short sentences.

Have a lively and dynamic voice

Articulating and slightly exaggerating voice intonations will make your presentation more pleasant and effective. Pauses and silences are also important, says Marie, who applies all the advice she gives to herself.

Pay attention to your body language

55% of interpersonal communication is through body language. It is therefore essential to adopt the right posture behind the screen: sitting comfortably, with your feet firmly planted on the ground, your shoulders relaxed and a smile on your face. And don't forget to pay attention to the technical details: framing of the camera, background, light, etc. Nothing should be overlooked!

Take it easy!

One last pieces of advice given by Marie  - and probably one of the most important - is to stay relaxed before and during the meeting. Easier said than done, some may say... But taking breaks during the day, standing up and taking time to breathe helps to regulate emotions and reduce stress levels before a presentation. To conclude her webinar, Marie Stephenson led the participants in a 5 minutes online relaxation session. And everyone played along, clearly delighted with the experience...