You’d Better Sit Down For This

You might want to sit down for this one—but don’t stop moving. Let’s talk about the virtual space and how to be dynamic in it. You probably spend a lot of time in virtual and hybrid meetings, orchestrating people who are in the room and people who aren’t. But too often, you’re not bringing energy to that experience.

Think about what you’ve said before: “We want this to feel more like the real world—more like in-person connection.” Well, part of what’s missing is anything three-dimensional. I’ve seen what happens—you plant yourself, you flatten your energy, you rest your hands on the desk, and you look down at your screen. You stop moving. All that’s left is a portrait of you—bored, with moving lips. It’s like that SpongeBob cutaway of the pirate painting with talking lips. That’s what you’re bringing to the meeting.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can translate three-dimensional energy into this two-dimensional window. The same principles that apply to in-person presenting apply here too. When I’m on stage, I move, then pause. I gesture, then still. I raise my voice, then pull the audience in with quiet. You can do that virtually too. Turn slightly in your chair. Shift your posture. Lean in to increase intensity, lean back to relax. These small movements make you feel alive and make your audience feel engaged.

And here’s the best part—most people in virtual meetings are doing a terrible job of this. Which means you can stand out simply by being alive in your space. You don’t need to overdo it or flail your hands; just use the space intentionally. Sit down, yes—but don’t stop moving. Bring dimension, energy, and humanity to the virtual room, and your audience will feel it.