Episode #243: A Smile, Energy, Eyeline Make Such A Difference When Presenting Online

How has online presenting changed business communication for leaders in Japan?

Before 2020, most プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training) happened in a physical classroom, with participants sitting shoulder to shoulder and presenters using full-body movement and energy. Since February 2020, many 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (foreign-capital/multinational companies) in 東京 (Tokyo) have shifted to LIVE online meetings and training.

The surprising reality: the core principles of powerful presenting have not changed—but the execution has. The biggest difference is the reduced opportunity to use full-body emphasis. Even with a standing desk, most cameras cut presenters off around the thigh, limiting physical expression and making voice, facial expression, and framing far more important.

Mini-summary: Online presenting is not a “new skill set” but an adaptation of classic Dale Carnegie methods to a restricted visual frame, where face, voice, and camera work carry most of the impact.

One of the most overlooked tools in online presentations is smiling. In virtual meetings, many professionals stop smiling altogether. This may be due to self-consciousness in front of a camera or a belief that “serious business” requires a serious face.

Think about your last online meeting: how many people actually smiled when giving reports or sharing updates? In our プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training), we see a dramatic difference when participants smile at appropriate moments—especially when sharing positive news, results, or solutions.

A well-timed smile:

• Makes you appear more confident and approachable

• Increases audience engagement and trust

• Aligns (“is congruent”) with positive content in your message

Mini-summary: Smiling strategically—especially when delivering good news—creates a powerful emotional connection online and differentiates you from the typical “flat” presenter.

Even after 18+ months of online meetings, many leaders and managers still struggle with the basics of camera framing and eye contact:

• Heads cut off or pushed to the bottom of the screen, as if “decapitated”

• Camera placed too low, shooting straight up the nostrils

• Eyes constantly looking down at faces on the screen instead of at the camera lens

To use the medium as it was designed:

1. Align the camera at eye level. Your eyes should be roughly one-third from the top of the frame, with upper torso visible.

2. Look at the lens when delivering key points. This simulates direct eye contact for your audience, just like in-person presenting.

3. Avoid “talking to the screen only.” If you only look at participant windows, the audience feels you are looking down on them or avoiding eye contact.

Imagine giving an in-person speech while staring at the floor the entire time—it would be ineffective. The same is true online: if you never “look your audience in the eye” via the lens, your message loses impact.

Mini-summary: Proper framing and deliberate eye contact with the camera lens transform your presence from passive participant to credible leader in any online setting.

Online, especially with fake or blurred backgrounds, gestures become more technically challenging but still crucial. When framed correctly, gestures add energy and clarity to your message.

Best practices for online gestures:

• Keep gestures between shoulder and head height. This keeps your hands clearly visible within the frame.

• Avoid fast, sweeping motions. Virtual backgrounds often “cut off” or partially erase moving hands, which distracts your audience.

• Hold your gesture for a moment. A held gesture is more stable for the camera and more meaningful for the viewer.

• Use your body as a shield when showing objects. If you want to display a document or product, hold it directly in front of you so the virtual background does not erase it.

In our プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training) for 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies), we coach participants to design gestures as intentionally as their slide content.

Mini-summary: Thoughtful, stable gestures within the camera frame add physical energy and clarity—without fighting against virtual backgrounds.

Most professionals use the same voice online that they use in casual conversation or in-person meetings. This is a mistake. When you present—whether on stage or on screen—you are no longer part of the audience; you are on stage.

Online, the camera and microphone also reduce perceived energy by roughly 20%. As a result, many presenters sound like they are on “downers”: flat, monotone, and unconvincing.

To counter this:

• Increase your energy level intentionally. Aim for about 20% more intensity than feels natural to you.

• Punch key words and phrases. Not every word has equal importance. Decide which words carry your message and hit them harder.

• Vary your pace and volume. Strategic pauses and changes in speed keep your audience awake and focused.

This is a core focus not only in プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training), but also in リーダーシップ研修 (leadership training) and 営業研修 (sales training), where voice energy directly influences trust and persuasion.

Mini-summary: Strong online presenters treat their voice like a strategic tool—adding energy, emphasis, and variety to compensate for the energy “loss” of the digital medium.

Why are many executives still underperforming online despite months of experience?

Experience alone does not create mastery. Many leaders have been in online meetings for months or years, yet they:

• Ignore camera framing and lens eye contact

• Underuse smiling and facial expression

• Neglect gestures or use them in ways that fight the technology

• Speak with low energy and no emphasis

The problem is not lack of time online; it’s lack of structured, expert feedback and practice. That is why 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational/foreign-capital companies) in 東京 (Tokyo) increasingly invest in プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training), エグゼクティブ・コーチング (executive coaching), and DEI研修 (DEI training) specifically adapted to online communication.

Dale Carnegie Training brings over 100 years of global expertise and 60+ years in Tokyo to help leaders correct these fundamental errors quickly, through targeted practice and application to real business situations.

Mini-summary: Without expert coaching, most professionals repeat the same online mistakes; with focused training and feedback, you can quickly move into the top 1% of online presenters—clear, engaging, and highly persuasive.

• Smile with purpose: Use a genuine smile when sharing positive news or key points to build trust and engagement.

• Control the frame: Set your camera at eye level, frame your upper body correctly, and speak to the lens for true eye contact.

• Design your gestures: Keep gestures within the visible frame, stable and intentional, especially when using virtual backgrounds.

• Elevate your voice energy: Increase intensity, emphasize key words, and vary your pace to overcome the “energy drain” of the camera.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, has been empowering both Japanese and multinational corporate clients ever since.