If you are more of an introvert, you might like making presentations through conference calls because it means that do not have to stand in front your audience. This will make you less nervous and will allow you to give your presentation better. Though some people prefer them, conference calls for presentations may not always be easier since it has its fair share of hurdles that you may need to overcome. Thanks to cloud computing, employees no longer have to meet up at a physical location to discuss business matters. It may have improved the speed with which ideas are shared but it has also changed the way people communicate those ideas. The biggest problem with conference calls is the lack of visibility. It has been said that communication is 20% verbal and the rest is non-verbal. This will make you realize how much you are not conveying by not allowing your audience to see your facial expressions and body language. Another sort of non-verbal communication comes in the form of hand gestures. When these are absent, you may find it more difficult to express your ideas. There are great services that provide call conferencing such as RingCentral but no matter how cutting edge your company phone is, the quality of your conversation will just not be the same as a face to face conference. However, there are steps you can take to make sure that your conference calls are still effective.
Create a script
One great way to improve your conference calls is to make a script beforehand. This will include the topics to be discussed. The script need not be perfect but make sure that your grammar is correct, along with your spelling. Do not read the script verbatim since this will make you sound mechanical.
Make an outline
Outlines are helpful when you are writing but it could prove to be just as beneficial for a conference call. Incorporate the outline of important issues into your script and arrange them accordingly so your audience does not get confused.
Enunciate properly
Though most people may already understand you when speaking to them physically, the same manner of speaking may not translate as well over the phone. Practice words that have the potential to be misunderstood and make sure that you say them in a way that will be intelligible.
Have a trial run
The most effective way to get yourself accustomed to making presentations through conference calls is to practice. Before the actual call, try it out on other team members and ask them for feedback and other things that may lead to an improvement in your presentation.
Smile
This is an often forgotten yet very important part when taking or making calls. When you smile, it will translate into your voice, making you sound more pleasant. It does not matter that they cannot see your face because your smile will make its way into your voice.
About the author: Henry Conrad is a 29-year-old game developer from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Aside from gaming and being a tech junky, he also dabbles in creative writing, which allows him to create great storylines and backgrounds for his characters. Follow me on Twitter and join me in Google +