For a virtual speech, you need to into the camera lens, speak clearly, and use your voice to keep people engaged. Keep your energy up and use simple visuals to help your points. Keep them engaged through the use of the chat box. Encourage interaction there. Ask them questions and run polls. For an in-person speech, make eye contact with the audience, maintain open body language, encourage Q&A sessions and incorporate storytelling to build an emotional connection with the audience. In both cases, be careful of your pace & mindful of your audience’s reactions. Also you need to open strong in both situations to immediately grab your audiences attention. Adjust your tone & style based on whether they seem interested or need more clarity.

For a virtual speech, I focus on clarity, engagement, and energy—using crisp delivery, intentional pauses, and direct eye contact with the camera to create a connection. I keep my gestures minimal but impactful, leveraging visuals to reinforce key points. For an in-person speech, I amplify my body language, use the stage dynamically, and engage with the audience through eye contact and real-time interaction. Regardless of the format, my core message remains strong, but the execution adapts to maximize impact in each setting.

Speaking in-person and online isn’t the same, so you’ve got to adjust your delivery. In-person, use big gestures, strong eye contact, and move with purpose to keep the room engaged. Project your voice and pause so people can react. Online, look at the camera instead of the screen, use smaller but clear gestures, and switch up your tone to keep the energy alive. Since you can’t see reactions, use polls or chat prompts to interact. If it’s a hybrid speech, acknowledge both audiences, balance eye contact, and make sure engagement works for everyone. The key is knowing how to connect, no matter where people are watching from.

Attention spans are very short for either situation. In a virtual environment - the audience is constantly tempted to divert their attention elsewhere. Emails, videos or maybe Netflix? Nowadays - speaking needs to be partly entertaining. Intrigue them with thoughts. Inspire them with concepts. Or Involve them with relatable situations. In either setting - keep the sentences to be more concise. For physical settings - vary what they can see (ex. Visual aids, body language). In virtual settings - vary what they can feel (ex. voice, emotion...) Maybe you can be their favorite bookmarked talk in their memory...?

In an in-person setting, I focus on strong stage presence, making eye contact, using open body language, and incorporating natural movements to connect with the audience. My experience in public speaking and performing arts has taught me the power of voice modulation and hand gestures to enhance storytelling and maintain engagement. For a virtual speech, I adjust by ensuring clear articulation, varied vocal tone, and direct engagement with the camera to create a personal connection. I use interactive elements and remain mindful of screen fatigue, keeping my delivery crisp and engaging. Balancing both formats requires flexibility, preparedness, and a strong, relatable presence, ensuring my message resonates regardless of the medium.