10 Signs Your Audience is Listening

Do you know if your audience is listening? Can they be on a phone and still listen? How do you entice them to listen?

It’s a given. Attention spans are shrinking. Your audience decides in seconds whether you are interesting and if your message is worth listening to.

Here are common clues that your audience is listening.

Eye Contact: Are they making steady eye contact with the speaker? Are they looking at the slides on the screen? 

·  Body Language: Audience members who are leaning forward with open body language are signaling that they are receptive to the message. Other body language signs are

-  Head Nodding: When you see audience members are nodding their heads in agreement that’s a signal that they are engaged.

-Facial Expressions such as smiling or raised eye brows can indicate agreement or surprise.

Verbal Responses: In a small group, members may comment or ask relevant questions, Statements such as "yes," or "I see," vindicate active listening. Laughter is also a strong indicator of audience attention.

Note-Taking: Audience members who find the information valuable may often take note to aid in the listening process.

Participation: Asking or answering questions, raising their hands, and actively participating in exercises or activities show that the audience is actively listening.

Mirroring: When rapport is strong audience members may find themselves mirroring the body language of the speaker.

Feedback: After the presentation, if participants offer constructive feedback or stay around to ask follow-up questions you’ll know they were listening.

Silence: Don’t assume the audience isn’t listening if there is silence. If a topic is complex or the audience is naturally reserved it doesn’t mean they’re not listening. One professional speaker thought he was bombing because the audience was silent. He tried every technique to engage them but he just couldn’t read them. When he concluded, they gave him a standing ovation and rushed the stage to talk to him.

Remember that each audience is different. Listening can be impacted by culture, time of the presentation, the environment, and their emotional state. You may not have control over all these things but you do have the ability to be interesting Be open and give it your best. You can gauge their interest by looking for the 10 signs of listening.

What listening clues do you look for in your audience?

To learn how to Speak Confidently and Effectively check out my LinkedIn learning course. It ranked in the Top 20 Most Popular courses for 2 years.

To learn techniques to overcome fear of speaking, read Chapter 3 of Knockout Presentations.

To work with me contact DiResta Communications, Inc.

"Conquer Your Fear: Celebrating Independence from Public Speaking Anxiety"

Remember the thrill of July 4th when you were a child? The excitement of Independence Day with fireworks, sparklers, barbecues, corn on the cob, and juicy watermelon. It was a joyous celebration of freedom and our nation's independence.

But what if we celebrated another kind of independence? Imagine declaring Independence from Public Speaking Fear. Public speaking is an essential skill that isn't going anywhere, not even with the rise of artificial intelligence (though it can help make it easier).

Picture yourself as a confident public speaker at work, equipped with the skills you need to succeed. How empowering would it be to feel prepared, confident, and respected for your contributions?

Our forefathers who fought for independence taught us a valuable lesson. It all began with the Boston Tea Party, where the people took a stand against unjust taxation and refused to be controlled. You can take a similar stand against the fears that are taxing you.

Think about the things you fear about public speaking: failure, humiliation, brain freeze, or a disengaged audience. Now, imagine putting those fears in a box labeled FEAR and throwing it away.

Next, picture another box labeled CONFIDENCE. Fill it with qualities that make you feel assured: positive self-talk, effective pauses, energetic delivery, audience engagement, smiling faces, and a smooth flow of ideas. Revisit and practice these skills until they become second nature.

Start today and declare your independence from public speaking anxiety. Embrace your new found confidence find your freedom and let your voice be heard!

 To learn how to Speak Confidently and Effectively check out my LinkedIn learning course. It ranked in the Top 20 Most Popular courses for 2 years.

To learn techniques to overcome fear of speaking, read Chapter 3 of Knockout Presentations.

To work with me contact DiResta Communications, Inc.

Mastering the Microphone: Essential Tips for Public Speakers

"Can't hear you." "Use the mic." Nothing is more frustrating for an audience than a speaker who cannot be heard. It doesn’t take a professional speaker to use a microphone effectively, but there will come a time when a subject matter expert or volunteer will need to step up and speak in public. Whether it’s a wedding toast, a thank you for an award, guesting on a podcast, or making an announcement over the PA system, using a microphone effectively is crucial to ensure your message is heard and to demonstrate professionalism.

Types of Microphones

Handheld Microphones

Watch the YouTube Short

·        Dynamic Handheld Microphones: Ideal for stages, handling loud sounds well without picking up much background noise. Hold the microphone no further than three inches from your mouth and aim the head directly at your mouth. Hold the base horizontally for maximum voice amplification.

·        Condenser Microphones: Best for controlled environments like studios, and picking up small details in recordings. Ideal for podcasts and broadcasts, they can plug into a laptop for broadcast-quality sound.

Headset Microphones

·        These are worn on the head with a small microphone attached to a wire, often used in call centers and by presenters who move around a lot, such as exercise instructors or motivational speakers. Ensure the microphone is positioned near the mouth for maximum volume, though the wire can sometimes be distracting.

Lavalier Microphones

·        A hands-free option clipped to your clothing, ideal for presentations, theaters, and television broadcasts. Remember to turn off the microphone before and after your presentation to avoid picking up unwanted conversations. Be cautious with gestures that might produce percussive sounds and consider wardrobe adjustments for the battery pack.

Podium Microphones

·        Attached to a podium or lectern, commonly used at lectures, conferences, and universities. Adjust the level of the microphone close to your mouth and avoid swaying to maintain clear and consistent sound. Too much head turning can cause of loss of volume.

Dos and Don’ts When Using a Microphone

Do:

1.     Test the Microphone and Conduct a Sound Check: Arrive early and get to know the audio-visual person in charge. Have a point person for troubleshooting sound issues.

2.     Consistency is Key: Hold the microphone at the same distance from your mouth to avoid sound variations.

3.     Speak Slowly and Clearly: Clearly enunciate as high-frequency sounds such as /s/ and /f/ can be distorted.

4.     Use Gestures: Even with a handheld microphone, gesturing with one hand can engage the audience and demonstrate enthusiasm.

5.     Project Your Voice: Use enough volume to enhance the sound without yelling into the microphone.

6.     Wear a Belt with a Lavalier Mic: The battery pack can be attached to a waistband or placed in a pocket. If wearing a dress, bring a belt.

Don’t:

1.     Hold the Microphone Too Close or Too Far: This creates inconsistent sound.

2.     Blow on the Microphone: Tapping, blowing, or saying "Testing, Testing" produces unpleasant noises and you’ll appear unprepared. Do a sound check before speaking.

3.     Ignore Feedback: A high-pitched screech indicates you're too close to the audio system. Move away and, if necessary, request a new microphone. Always have a backup.

4.     Move Constantly: It distracts the audience and affects sound quality.

5.     Forget to Turn Off the Microphone: Unintended comments or conversations might be heard by the audience.

6.     Hog the Microphone: During panel discussions, take turns speaking and passing the microphone to the next panelist.

Public speaking is an essential skill for everyone. It’s not enough to know your message; how you deliver it is key. Handling technology, particularly microphones, is a critical part of the presentation. Master the microphone, and your message will be heard, raising your credibility and professionalism while engaging the audience.

 To learn how to Speak Confidently and Effectively check out my LinkedIn learning course. It ranked in the Top 20 Most Popular courses for 2 years.

To learn techniques to overcome fear of speaking, read Chapter 3 of Knockout Presentations.

To work with me contact DiResta Communications, Inc.

How to Give a Knockout Pitch

In American baseball the pitcher can make or break a ball game. The best pitchers warm up, they know the right strategy- whether to strike out the batter or let them walk, They vary their pitch and never lose confidence.

Well, you don’t have to play baseball to pitch. In business you will be making pitches whether it’s an elevator pitch, a sales pitch, a media pitch, a job interview pitch, an investor pitch, or pitching an idea to your manager.

Michael Quinn, the founder of Minor Nobles, the NYC-based consultancy, conducted a study to learn about what makes a good pitch. There were 1800 responses, 75% were male and 25% were female. 

The job levels were  12 % entry-level, 37% mid-level and  51 percent executives. The respondents heard up to 10,000 pitches in a year’s time.

What did the study reveal? Here were the learnings:

Master the facts. It’s important to know your content but when pitching to executives, relevant experience is critical. The more senior the audience, the more important this becomes. Avoid being scripted and don’t rely on the pitch deck. Bring up experience in a conversational format early in the pitch. For less senior audiences do your homework and know the facts.

The team trumps the individual. In other words don’t assign one person to deliver the pitch. It shows cohesiveness when other team members present and it’s more engaging for the audience. Do not bring team members who lack experience or don’t have a lot to say. The exception to relying on one presenter is if a senior team member has high level expertise, listens effectively, and can build trust.

Show Passion for the problem not just the product or solution. Passion is a top trait valued by the audience. Enthusiasm sells. Can the audience feel the energy of the pitch?  Also important are the details. Is it just surface knowledge or can they go deep?

It’s easy to get sidetracked trying to sell the decision-maker on the greatness of the team and the product. But it’s not about the product. It’s about them. Show as much passion for the audience as for the product. Focus on the audience and what they care about. What are their goals?

Listen and respond carefully

Nobody wants to be sold! So listen more and speak less. The difference between winning or losing the pitch is chemistry. That involves empathy, passion, direct communication and excellent listening skills. Focus on building trust.

According to the study, there is no surefire way to win a pitch. It’s more of an art than a science. So start by reading the room and adapt accordingly.

Follow these pitching tips to knock it out of the park.

To learn how to Speak Confidently and Effectively check out my LinkedIn learning course. It ranked in the Top 20 Most Popular courses for 2 years.

To learn techniques to overcome fear of speaking, read Chapter 3 of Knockout Presentations.

To work with me contact DiResta Communications, Inc.

Does the Sound of Your Voice Eclipse Your Success?

Are you losing opportunities because of the sound of your voice? Have you ever heard a voice that was velvety and inviting? What about a voice that sounded like nails on a chalkboard?

Recently, I attended a virtual program The webinar was about a new app. I was interested in the topic and took out my journal ready to take notes. What happened next was jarring. The presenter’s voice started to get in the way of the message. There were three reasons her voice was so irritating:

1. Vocal fry. She had that low pitched gravely Kim Kardashian voice that is so popular in the media especially for female speakers. Vocal fry can often make a presenter sound depressed.

2. Uptalk. Uptalk or upspeak is a singsong, rising inflection at the end of a sentence. It sounds like the speaker is asking a question instead of making a statement. It sounds tentative and gives rise to a lack of conviction or even credibility.

3. Speed talking. The woman didn’t take a breath. She rattled on speaking in one run-on sentence or paragraph. In the absence of pausing, there was no space for the message to land.

   Now combine them all together and you have a recipe for an unsavory vocal stew. I tried to multi-task while the speaker was talking but it only served as background noise. The voice can create a mood and her vocal pattern was having a negative psychological effect on my attitude.

   I left the meeting. This presenter was not alone in having trouble using her voice.

   Interestingly, that same week I received an inquiry from a company. The caller wanted to know if I could help her. She explained that some people were leaving virtual meetings because of the quality of the presentations. She recognized that some of her staff needed to work on their voices. They lacked excitement and even though their department had a unique product, the message wasn’t getting out. Nobody knew about it because of the way the staff used their voices. The sound of their voices was eclipsing their success and their brand.

   How do you improve the sound of your voice? Follow these three steps:

   Awareness. Ask a trusted friend or advisor about your voice. How does it sound? Is there anything about the vocal quality that could cause people to stop listening? Once you have some feedback, listen to your own voice to hear what others are hearing. Get some other opinions.

   Breathing. The next step is to work on your breathing. Breath support is the foundation of a good voice. Learn breathing exercises to sustain the voice, project the voice and create strategic pauses.

   Practice. Incorporate your breathing exercises into your daily practice. Work with a voice coach. Watch broadcasters you admire. and model what they do. Record yourself until you notice a difference. Ask others for feedback.

   You can either allow the sound of your voice to eclipse your success or you minimize those vocal shadows and shine in the spotlight.

   To learn how to Speak Confidently and Effectively check out my LinkedIn learning course. It ranked in the Top 20 Most Popular courses for 2 years.

   To learn techniques to overcome fear of speaking, read Chapter 3 of Knockout Presentations.

   To work with me contact DiResta Communications, Inc.

Strategic Silence: The Art of Pauses in Persuasive Communication

Are you a strategic speaker? Talking too fast? Push the pause button. Persuasive public speakers know the key to influence is in the silence.

In a fast-paced world, where every second counts, it may seem counterintuitive to promote pauses. However, when pauses are used strategically they  can be a powerful tool to increase clarity, impact, and influence in the spoken word. Whether you're leading a meeting, giving a keynote speech or having a conversation, mastering strategic pauses can elevate your communication skills to new heights. Why are pauses so important?

The Importance of Strategic Pauses

When communicating, pausing punctuates a message to convey meaning and add impact. Pausing gives the audience time to receive and understand the message. The brain needs processing time and pausing gives the audience a break between thoughts.

Maximizing Clarity and Comprehension

 Pauses can also indicate transitions between ideas, allowing listeners to follow  the speaker's train of thought more easily. This signals to the audience that there is a new thought or topic about to be discussed.

Elevating Engagement and Connection

Strategic pauses play an important role in fostering engagement and connection with the audience. When used strategically pauses command attention, create anticipation, and build suspense, keeping listeners actively engaged throughout the communication process. Pauses can prompt questions from the listeners and establish a stronger connection with the audience. 

Increasing Persuasion and Influence

 Strategic pauses can be a powerful tool for changing attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
They can also underscore important arguments, highlight evidence, and enable listeners to feel emotions. By using strategic pauses, the speaker can create tension or suspense which will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. By using strategic pauses presenters can be more successful in persuading, shaping opinions, and driving action.

Mastering Strategic Pauses

To leverage the power of strategic pauses effectively, communicators must develop awareness, intentionality, and subtlety in their delivery. Here are some tips to consider:

1.     Engage in  Active Listening: Listen to a recording of your voice and look for places to insert strategic pauses for emphasis, clarity, or drama.

2.    Pause Intentionally: Introduce pauses at key points in your speech    to signal important messages segues, or changes in tone.

3.     Welcome Silence:  Most people are afraid of silence. Practice pausing longer than necessary to become accustomed to silence. Mark up your speech to visually anticipate the pauses. Pause one beat for a comma, two beats for a period and three beats to signal the end of a paragraph. Pausing will breathe life into your message.

4.     Read the Room: Be flexible with the use of pauses based on the content, audience, and purpose of your communication. Pausing too long could frustrate your audience.

5.     Solicit Feedback: Ask for feedback from colleagues, mentors and coaches to fine tune your use of strategic pauses and elevate your impact.

Conclusion

Strategic pauses are a powerful and underutilized speaking skill. Stop playing it safe in front of the room. Invite the audience on your speaking journey by inserting pauses into your presentation. The pay-off is greater clarity, engagement, persuasion, connection, and impact with your audience.  

In the words of Mark Twain, “The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”

To learn how to Speak Confidently and Effectively check out my LinkedIn learning course. It ranked in the Top 20 Most Popular courses for 2 years.

To learn techniques to overcome fear of speaking, read Chapter 3 of Knockout Presentations.

To work with me contact DiResta Communications, Inc.

4 Barriers to Presentation Brilliance

What causes a public speaker to fade in the background instead of lighting up a room? Each presenter has an opportunity to share their wisdom but often barriers get in the way of conveying their brilliance.

Are you afraid to step out of your comfort zone? There’s a saying, “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know”. Public speakers easily default to the familiar instead of trying something new. Sometimes it’s because they don’t know anything else or may be unaware that they need to improve.

It’s essential to understand that being uncomfortable is part of unearthing your brilliance. The goal is to be comfortable with being uncomfortable- to seek it out-to embrace it. Ask yourself, “How can I stretch?”

A major roadblock to stepping into a bigger version of yourself is the fear of humiliation. When I first wrote Knockout Presentations, I interviewed people and asked them the reason they feared public speaking. After analyzing the responses, a theme emerged. What most people dreaded was the fear of humiliation. That being the case, you can overcome this fear by

1. Anticipating a humiliating experience and preparing recovery strategies.

2. Reframe the mishap as a learning experience. It’s not humiliating unless you consider it so.

   While fear is the biggest barrier here are four common reasons that public speakers cast a shadow on their own presentation brilliance.

Failure to adapt. To be a master communicator you must be flexible. That means adapting to a different audience, a different company culture and especially last minute changes. Here is where we separate the novice from the pro. It’s not unusual to have your time cut by the manager or meeting planner. Would you know how to do it? The most common way presenters adapt is to speak faster. Or maybe the first speaker on the agenda used the exact examples you planned to use. Failure to adapt will take you out of brilliance and launch you into dullness.

Poor communication skills. There is no shortage of subject matter experts who have valuable insights and data but can’t communicate their message. The presenters may be disorganized. They may not define terms. More frequently, the presenters speak too fast or don’t articulate clearly and often go off message. If your audience is scratching their heads with confusion, they will tune you out.

Little or no audience connection. Are you a talking head? This is the presenter who is scripted and overly rehearsed. They sound unnatural and they talk at the audience. People don’t want to hear a lecture. Presentation brilliance is about the relationship with the audience. Talk to them in a conversational tone. Ask them a question and challenge them. Provide an exercise and tell them a story that is relatable. Create an experience. It’s about how you make them feel. Facts tell but stories sell. Without emotion they’ll probably forget most of what you say.

Insufficient technology skills. Like it or not, we all need to be proficient with technology. Have you ever seen an expert fumbling with equipment? What’s the experience of the slides not working? It’s easy to lose credibility as a public speaker when your technical skills don’t match your expertise. You don’t have to use technology in every presentation. If your story is compelling all you need is you. But remember YOU are the visual aid and the technology is about how you work the room and command the stage.

These four barriers don’t have to overshadow you. Master the skills of adaptability, communication, connection, and technology and let your presentation brilliance emerge.

To learn how to Speak Confidently and Effectively check out my LinkedIn learning course. It ranked in the Top 20 Most Popular courses for 2 years.

To learn techniques to overcome fear of speaking, read Chapter 3 of Knockout Presentations.

To work with me contact DiResta Communications, Inc.

Is Public Speaking Like Eating Peas?

When I was a child, I didn’t like eating peas. I would sit at the dinner table and push them around on my plate. Then, I’d spear one pea with my fork and gulp it down like bitter medicine. My grandfather observing this avoidance ritual suggested I mix my peas in my mashed potatoes so I wouldn’t taste them. It worked! I started mixing peas and mashed potatoes at dinner. I still didn’t like peas but he made them more palatable.

And this is the case for many people. They avoid public speaking because they don’t like it. I would have been okay if I didn’t have peas in my diet. But for professionals and leaders, avoiding public speaking is career suicide. Consider the second year law student I coached who was going to drop out of law school because she was afraid of speaking in class. After coaching her she learned to mix the right mindset with the right skill set. Imagine if she had dropped out of law school because of public speaking fear.

Today she’s a lawyer and giving effective presentations. She found the right mix.

Consider the middle manager who avoided speaking at meetings. Her throat would tighten up causing her to clam up and not participate. The quickest way to become invisible in an organization is by not participating. The effect is not having a voice in meetings. The common perception is if you remain silent you don’t know anything. This can result in forfeiting promotions and being overlooked for high visibility projects or leadership opportunities.  I coached her to reduce vocal tension. She learned how to work her mind and her body so that the words wouldn’t stick in her throat.

Today, she has a new job at a higher level. And she’s speaking with ease.

An entrepreneur was successful in her business and enjoyed being a podcast host. She confided in me that she would love to speak on large stages but because of an auditory processing problem she couldn’t give speeches. She was not able to remember the sequence of ideas and words no matter how many times she practiced. She had so much to offer an audience but had given up on ever being on a big stage. This disability was her peas. She needed to find the mashed potatoes to overcome the limitation. I convinced her that she could speak on large stages. She could share her ideas. But the medium would be different.  Instead of delivering a speech which would stress her out and leave her searching for words, she could give a fireside chat. By putting two chairs on the stage, the interviewer could ask her questions allowing her to tell her story, share her wisdom, and inspire the audience. She was brilliant in conversation and on podcasts. A fireside chat would not require memorization and would showcase her brilliance.

She was excited to find the right mix that would allow her to reach more people and change more lives.

Today I like sweet peas. I’ve acquired a taste for them but it took time. For some people, public speaking is an acquired taste. As they gain confidence and mastery, they begin to enjoy giving presentations. For others, they may never like speaking. But by combining the right mental attitude and skill set they can certainly make it more palatable.

To learn how to Speak Confidently and Effectively check out my LinkedIn learning course. It ranked #5 on the Top 20 Most Popular courses.

To learn techniques to overcome fear of speaking, read chapter 3 of Knockout Presentations.

To work with me contact DiResta Communications, Inc.

7 Tips When Speaking Internationally

September is International Speak Out Month. It reminded me of my International speaking experience and the important lessons I learned. Here are 7 tips to set you up for success when speaking internationally.

1.       Study the culture- Your presentation begins long before you step on a stage or begin to speak. How do people greet each other? In some European countries they kiss both cheeks. In Japan, the greeting is the bow. What is the tradition for gift giving? Are they a low context or high context culture? This will inform you about the level of formality that’s expected as well as how to treat authority.

2.       Meet the translator-Will you receive simultaneous translation or consecutive translation? If it’s the latter, you will need to pause after each sentence or two, while the interpreter translates. Where did the translator learn English? There’s a difference between British and American English. Be sure to define terms and explain your speech to the translator so that it is communicated with the right intent and clarity.

3.       Speak slowly-When you’re in a different country, YOU are the one with the accent. Even if it’s an English speaking audience they will probably need time to translate in their heads. Speaking slowly will allow the listeners time to process what you are saying.

4.       Manage body language-You can easily offend an audience before you even open your mouth. The same gesture can mean different things. The A-0k sign with the thumb and index finger touching with the 3 fingers extended is an obscenity in Brazil. Even the nod or shake of your head can have a different meaning. Practice with the gestures you’ll use in your speech with a native from the country where you’ll speak.

5.       Speak the Native Language-Nothing is more endearing and caring than to speak in the native tongue. When I spoke in Africa, I gave my greeting in Kiswahili-”Hello. I’m happy to be here” I was surprised when the audience broke into applause.

6.       Avoid humor-Humor rarely translates across cultures even if you’re a comedian.

7.       Learn their idioms- I leaned this the hard way when I was speaking to a British audience. I would use an innocuous term such as “on the job” and I would hear snickering. It meant something else in England. A sweater is called a jumper, gasoline is petrol, a truck is a lorry, a TV is a telly.

Mistakes will happen. But with a little research, planning and practice you can speak anywhere in the world and give knockout presentations.

My presentations, training , coaching and books are available virtually. It’s easy to find me to discuss your needs. Email diane@diresta.com. DM me at twitter @speakingpro. Or call: 917 803-8663

7 Tips to Present on the Witness Stand.

You’re going to court. The thought of going to court can stress anybody out. Add that you’re going to be on the witness stand, and the fear of public speaking gets triggered.

The outcome of a case can be strongly influenced by the testimony of the witnesses. So how do you present yourself credibly in court?

Keep these public speaking tips in mind before you take the stand:

1.       Practice out loud and record yourself. Your attorney will train you in being a witness and you’ll be a better presenter when you know your message points. Rehearsing at home will give you confidence.

2.       Look at the jury. If your eyes look up before you answer, you’ll appear less credible and knowledgeable. The audience is the jury so talk to one person at a time. Make an eye connection. Looking someone in the eye denotes trustworthiness.

3.       Reduce non-words. Fillers like /um/ /you know/ /like/ will cause you to sound unprepared. Don’t be afraid of silence. Confident presenters pause. You don’t have to answer immediately. Think before you speak.

4.       Check your appearance. Your attire communicates a message. A jury can be swayed by the way you look. Be sure clothes are pressed, shoes are polished and your clothing is appropriate for the case.

5.      Speak clearly and naturally. Take your time and pace yourself. Avoid mumbling and be conversational. You’ll be believable by being yourself.

6.       Know when to stop. If the judge or attorneys interrupt, stop speaking.

7.       Get to the point. You’ll lose the jury if you give too many details or go down a rabbit hole. Stay on topic. Answer the question that was asked. Be brief.

To hear tips on presenting in court, watch my interview.

My presentations, training , coaching and books are available virtually. It’s easy to find me to discuss your needs. Email diane@diresta.com. DM me at twitter @speakingpro. Or call: 917 803-8663

Here Come Da Judge: Succeeding in Virtual Court

You many have your day in court but it’s probably not going to be at a courthouse near you.   There’s a greater likelihood that you’ll be in virtual court and that requires a new set of skills.  The Honorable Gustavo A. Gelpí & Honorable Julie Kunce Field delivered a presentation entitled Holding Virtual Court: A Conversation with Two Judges.

During the conversation they shared insights about holding court during a pandemic, the advantages and disadvantages of virtual court, their expectations, and recommendations.

In discussing some of the challenges, they revealed that people may not be tech savvy. In order to mitigate this issue they recommended that anyone appearing in court should request a practice session with a court officer prior to their hearing. Another challenge is controlling noise and conversation and for that reason, the judges mute everybody. Acknowledging the limitations of body language on a virtual platform, they requested that participants display a waist shot for the camera when in their courtrooms.. And speaking of cameras, the judges preferred Webex over Zoom for security reasons. In open court, where anybody can sit in, each person observing was expected to identify themselves.

Their advice to lawyers was that the skills that work in a physical courtroom don’t translate to the virtual world. The flamboyant lawyers who bang on the desk, and continually interrupt, don’t fare well in this environment. Legal presentations must adapt to the virtual environment. Although remote communication was thrust upon all of us, the judges reported that in many cases virtual court was successful. Saving time was touted as one of the biggest benefits of virtual court especially for a lawyer who would have to travel for a couple of hours to attend a 15 minute meeting. The situation where virtual court was not appropriate was where a jury was required. But in non-jury court hearings, an expert can be easily brought in from any geographic region, saving travel time and costs.

Both judges predicted the future will be hybrid court for it’s convenience. Major trials will be held in person, but in other situations the virtual platform will be beneficial in settling legal cases.

Virtual court is not just for lawyers and judges. You never know when you’ll need to appear to challenge a summons or handle a landlord tenant dispute. The virtual world is not going away. Master virtual presentation skills and you’ll have a better chance of winning your case. To learn how to be a knockout virtual presenter, visit www.diresta.com

My presentations, training and coaching are available virtually. It’s easy to find me to discuss your needs. Email diane@diresta.com. DM me at twitter @speakingpro. Or call: 917 803-8663