MASTERING VIRTUAL EXECUTIVE PRESENCE IN A HYBRID WORLD
by Leslie Rohonczy, Executive Coach, IMC, PCC | ©2024 | www.leslierohonczy.com
In a surprising twist, it looks like hybrid work isn’t going anywhere. Even as many companies are calling employees back to the office, recent data shows that hybrid work arrangements are actually growing.
In fact, 43% of U.S. companies have adopted hybrid policies in 2024, up from 29% the previous year. Here in Canada, hybrid work has become a significant aspect of our professional landscape. According to the C.D. Howe Institute, 26% of paid employees worked remotely in some way by the end of 2023, with hybrid models becoming increasingly prevalent. And according to the HR Reporter, 74% of Canadian business leaders have reduced their traditional office space by adopting hybrid models, resulting in average annual savings of about $400,000. And experts predict that even with an increase in return-to-office mandates, hybrid models will remain a significant part of the professional landscape through 2025.
As physical offices give way to blended virtual workspaces, the concept of executive presence has undergone a dramatic transformation. This dual reality requires leaders to master executive presence across both physical and virtual environments – to project authority, inspire trust, and foster connection through a screen. Making this shift requires a unique set of skills and strategies to help leaders command a room, even when the room is entirely digital.
THE NEW RULES OF EXECUTIVE PRESENCE
Executive presence has traditionally been defined by traits like confidence, poise, and the ability to connect with others in person. In virtual and hybrid environments, these traits are still crucial, but how we demonstrate them has shifted.
Here are the new rules:
Clarity is King: In a virtual setting, clarity in communication takes precedence. Leaders who articulate their ideas succinctly, and as transparently as possible, help to ensure their messages resonate, even without the benefit of physical cues like body language.
Non-Verbal Communication Matters More Than Ever: While body language in a physical space conveys authority and confidence, in virtual settings, it’s about how you use your voice, facial expressions, and gestures that appear within the frame.
The “Halo Effect” of Technology: Your tech setup (lighting, sound quality, and background) contributes significantly to how we are perceived. A well-lit and professional-looking environment can enhance our credibility.
Authenticity Rules: Let people see your personality (see my previous article ‘What’s Your ‘Ness’ and are you making the most of it?’). In a world of polished LinkedIn profiles and pre-recorded webinars, showing genuine authenticity stands out, because people connect with leaders who are transparent, relatable, and human.
STRATEGIES TO BOOST VIRTUAL LEADERSHIP PRESENCE
Here are a few strategies you can experiment with, to help you develop your virtual leadership presence:
Master Your Delivery
Your delivery – how you communicate your message – is critical:
Storytelling: Put what you want to say in the form of a story. It’s how we humans learn and process information best.
Intentional Pauses: Strategic pauses can emphasize key points and give your audience time to process your message. Resist filling your pauses with additional information. Use silence to your advantage.
Active Listening: Demonstrate active listening by nodding, maintaining eye contact, and summarizing key points shared by others and why they resonated with you. Become aware of your listening style, and the mitigants you can use to remain present.
Language: Be precise and concise. Avoid jargon and focus on clear, impactful language. Say what you mean and avoid over-massaging key points – your cautious wordsmithing may cause your point to be lost on others.
Empathy: Acknowledge challenges and emotions, especially during difficult discussions. Authentic empathy builds vulnerability-based trust.
Manage Your Virtual Energy
The way you demonstrate your engagement and enthusiasm for what you’re talking about can help your audience deeply connect with your message:
Eye Contact: Look directly at the camera to simulate eye contact. This small gesture creates a sense of connection and engagement. If you’re sharing presentation slides, stop presentation mode as soon as you’re able, so that participants can see your face fully.
Facial Expressions: Smile when appropriate and use expressions to mirror the emotional tone of the conversation. Grow your awareness of what your face does when someone disagrees with you, presents a surprising point, or delights you.
Hide Your Self-View: Once you’ve become familiar with your facial expressions, hide your self-view, so that you can’t see your own image. This simple move will improve your presence and help you to come across more authentically.
Pace and Tone: Speak at a measured pace and modulate your tone to convey your energy and engagement. A monotonous delivery will lose your audience.
Gestures: Use hand gestures within the frame to emphasize key points but avoid overdoing it.
Optimize Your Tech Setup
Your environment is your stage, and every element contributes to the impression you leave:
Lighting: Natural light is ideal, but if that’s not an option, invest in a ring light or other soft lighting options to illuminate your face evenly.
Camera Angle: Position your camera at eye level to simulate a face-to-face conversation. Avoid angles that look up at or down on you, as these can distort perception.
Audio Quality: Poor audio can be distracting, and detract from your message, so invest in a clear and professional-sounding microphone.
Background: Virtual backgrounds are acceptable but shouldn’t be distracting or overly artificial. Choose simple and professional options.
Measuring Your Virtual Executive Presence
How do you know if you’re succeeding in projecting a strong virtual executive presence? Here are some indicators you can use to measure your performance:
Engagement Metrics: Are participants actively engaging with you during virtual meetings? Do they ask questions, participate in discussions, and provide feedback?
Feedback: Solicit feedback from trusted colleagues, peers, other leaders, or mentors. Ask them to observe your virtual interactions and provide constructive feedback and ideas for improving your virtual presence.
Self-Assessment: Record your virtual meetings and watch them back to identify areas you can improve, such as pacing, tone, clarity, or visual setup.
THE FUTURE OF EXECUTIVE PRESENCE
As the workplace continues to evolve, so will the expectations for executive presence. Leaders must stay adaptable, learning to leverage new technologies and approaches to lead their diverse and distributed teams well. Executive presence is no longer confined to physical spaces. It’s about making an impact, whether you’re face-to-face or behind a screen. The tools and strategies outlined here will help you embrace this new reality and thrive in the digital age of leadership.
Are you ready to elevate your virtual executive presence? Schedule a free consultation call with me today to explore how executive coaching can help you lead with impact, clarity, and confidence.