Episode 136: How to use body language to increase participation in your virtual workshops with Mark Bowden
Mark Bowden is back!
It sounds weird to say this: But this guy makes you feel at home when you chat to him. Yes, I know we’re all at home already — he’s curious, he uses your name when he talks to you, he asks questions, he nods, he does all the things to make you feel safe and ready to contribute.
I spoke to Mark in Episode 102 of the First Time Facilitator podcast, and it’s the #1 most downloaded episode of all time! Last time we spoke, we discussed body language tips for real world workshop facilitation.
It’s funny what changes in less than a year! Or in our case, in 30 episodes.
So, I brought Mark back on the show, to share how we can use our body language to create engagement and connections quickly, in the virtual world.
The answer is more reassuring than you think.
From my perspective - he’s been there, done that but my favourite thing about Mark is how funny, down to earth and comfortable he is to be around.
With our Virtually Possible community opening last week, I also decided to hand over the microphone to the group, and let them ask Mark some questions.
A big thanks to those from VP who joined live and felt comfortable coming off mute to ask Mark a question, you kept the fabulous group interview going, I salute you!
About our Guest: Mark Bowden
Voted the #1 Body Language Professional in the world for two years running, Mark Bowden is passionate about giving your audience the most influential and persuasive communication techniques to stand out, win trust, and gain credibility every time they speak. Inspiring, energetic, engaging, and entirely entertaining, Mark’s memorable talks and training programs not only educate but have proven life-changing in helping people and organizations grow across all industries and sectors.
Mark’s work is consistently invaluable to sales and leadership teams, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, and prime ministers of G7 powers. His highly acclaimed TEDx talk has reached millions of people, and he has presented to many of the biggest, coolest, and most innovative organizations in the world, including Shopify, Dell, Viacom, RBC, Fidelity, Amex, Unilever, Daimler, Microsoft, Toyota, VW, Samsung, KPMG, GSK, Walmart, Nestle, and even Real Madrid.
In this episode you will learn:
How to lead the behaviour in a virtual session using your body language, and positive affirmations to create that safe space
Techniques to ramp up your energy by using different camera angles and positions (think, scene changes)
How camera angles affect intimacy of conversation during virtual sessions
How our primitive brain works in a virtual environment and how to best utilise it
The difference between why people are engaged or disengaged in a virtual meeting
Questions asked in this show include:
It is difficult to read the body language in a virtual session, what can we do to compensate for that?
How much do we need to ramp up our gestures and body language in front of a webcam?
What’s your view on standing up or sitting down in a virtual session?
How does the primitive brain work in a virtual environment and to best utilise it?
What can you do to establish a really strong connection or rapport quickly?
Where do you think the future of technology used in virtual facilitation is going?
Resources:
Watch the video! Leanne Hughes along with the Virtually Possible community chat to Mark Bowden
About your host: Leanne Hughes
Leanne Hughes is an international facilitator, speaker and coach who loves creating unpredictable workshop experiences, that predictably work.
She combines her experience in Marketing, with her education in Human Resources and Psychology, to help leaders create engaging everyday experiences - that are so contagious they scale across teams, functions and regions.
Leanne has facilitated leadership, onboarding and team-development workshops across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Singapore and believes in a strengths-centred approach to learning and development. She has over 13 years’ of experience across a range of industries including mining, government and tourism sectors.
She’s the host of the First Time Facilitator podcast and was a finalist in the 2018 Australian Learning Impact awards for Learning Professional of the Year.
Like this show?
Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally.
Tweet Leanne your number one takeaway from this episode!
Grab my cheat sheet:
The 5 unpredictable ways to start a Zoom meeting (that predictably work)
