Imagine sitting in a boardroom waiting for a meeting to begin when an attendee calls to say, “I don’t want you to see me today, so I’m going join the meeting from a phone in the hallway.”

This would NEVER happen, and yet every day we struggle to get attendees to show their faces on video calls.

Most of us miss the days when we could engage face-to-face with each other in the hallway, lunchroom or meeting space, and yet, it seems like there is a reluctance to turn on our camera to see each other’s faces.

There are several reasons people don’t turn on their camera. Perhaps they do not like seeing themselves on camera, their hair or makeup isn’t done, or their workspace is a mess.  I venture to guess the biggest reason is because attendees want to multi-task. Let’s face it, multi-tasking is a lot easier to do when you know you can’t be seen.

Either way, when you can’t see each other’s eyes, you can’t make the connection needed to be truly influential in every interaction.

To increase your influence, get your meeting attendees to give you their undivided attention by asking one of these three questions:

1. “I’d love to see you today. Are you able to turn on your camera?”

This is a great question to ask coworkers, peers and others you once could frequently see in person. It is hard for attendees to say ‘no’ to this request, and it will boost the friendly dialogue you once had working together in the office.

2. “To ensure you receive the most from this meeting, would you please turn on your camera?”

This question is a great way to ask existing clients and employees to show their shining faces. Encouraging them to turn on their cameras will maximize engagement, helping everyone focus so details aren’t missed. It also helps you read reactions and evaluate how to move conversations forward.

3. “Would you turn on your camera so I can more easily help you?”

Conversations with prospects can be challenging enough without having to stare at a blank screen. Let your prospects know you are excited to help them and seeing their face will help you do just that. This will maximize engagement and help you navigate the conversation more easily. If asking this question feels uncomfortable, set the expectation when initially schedule the meeting.

Virtual meetings are a part of our new normal and learning to maximize our influence in this new reality is critical to our success. Ask these three questions to get your listeners to turn on their cameras so you can turn up your influence.

Check out our Research on Influence in conjunction with the University of Northern Colorado HERE.

Influence Research

The post Three Ways Turning On the Camera Will Turn Up Your Influence first appeared on Stacey Hanke, Inc..

Being influential through every word you speak and every movement you make Monday to Monday takes practice.  That’s it…Practice.  You can’t read how-to’s in a book, attend a training session or rely on your title to be influential.  The hard truth is that being influential is a lifelong journey of practicing through day-to-day interactions.

Make a four-step commitment!

1. Clarity. To determine how much you need to practice, get clear on what you want. When you’re clear on what you want to achieve, you’ll be able to recognize when you’ve reached your desired outcome.
2. Feedback. It takes discipline to ask for feedback. Commit to asking for feedback every week.  Do what it takes to get motivated and focused so you can take action on the feedback, which will get you to your desired outcomes.

3. Take a look. If you’re not regularly seeing and hearing yourself through the eyes and ears of your listeners, you’re missing out on huge opportunities to improve. The only way you can clearly know how others perceive you is through video and audio recordings.  At your next meeting, simply press “record” on your tech gadget.  Audio record your phone conversations.

4. Recording yourself is useless without immediate playback. When you review your playback, do you come across the way you want?  What do you want to enhance or improve?  Trust what the video playback shows.  Nothing is more honest.

Check out Darren Hardy’s video on deliberate practice.

Drop me a note to share what you have done differently this week than other weeks to deliberately practice a communication skill or technique.  Tag me on my Facebook page.

Are you ready to maximize your effectiveness in client meetings and presentations? In “10 lies businesspeople believe about their influence,”  Download this resource now.

The post Deliberate Practice: 4 Ways to Immediately Change Behaviors first appeared on Stacey Hanke, Inc..