When it comes to an actual delivery, I don’t suffer from Zoom fatigue, and I sincerely appreciate the various delivery options available like breakout rooms, polls, chats, video, PowerPoint, and more.  I back that up with a professional backdrop, a powerful microphone, side lights, a strong camera, and a standup desk so I can move.

I need to make a quick confession:  I actually like delivering virtual presentations.  I don’t have to travel and hunt down airport parking spots, battle security lines, stress about airline delays, cope with the loneliness of hotel rooms, or when I finish my work, fight my way home. 

Yep, I really enjoy the world of virtual delivery. At this point, it’s just about the same as a live delivery, except for one thing; energy. I put out as much energy as I can possibly muster for a virtual delivery, but like my other brothers and sisters in the presentation business, I drive my words, facial expressions, and movements to the blue light that resides on top my monitor.  The problem is, that blue light has no heart, no soul, and worst of all, no energy.

When you are in front of a live audience, there is a kind of energy dance that goes on.  You put out energy, and the audience feels it.  The audience reacts, puts out energy, and you feel it.  This provides fuel, and in turn, you react with even more energy, and the audience feels it. This energy continues to build, and a kind of symbiotic relationship begins to emerge between the speaker and the audience, with each providing support to the other.

Like it or not, when you are in the spotlight, you have a significant impact on the energy around you. You’re either generating energy and enthusiasm in people, or you’re reacting to their energy. When you are working virtually, there is no real opportunity to feel the infectious energy from an audience.  Add the fact that an audience of any real size is going to be muted, and it becomes you and the blue light of the camera doing your own, private dance.  No energy, no noise, no laughter, no applause.

For the record, during the first year of virtual delivery, I actually experimented with a laugh button on an iPad, wired to a speaker, propped up next to my microphone. I was usually late diving for that button, and I often missed it altogether. There was something important still missing… The missing link was the contagious energy from the audience.  

I’ve learned something very important: I need an audience to take me to a level of output that is nearly impossible to get to without their help.  I need that audience as much, if not more, than they need me.  I know it’s a tall order but, ultimately, the success of your presentation will depend on whether you can fuel others with your energy, and utilize their energy to fuel yours.  Let’s keep improving the process of virtual delivery, and recognize it’s a wonderful way to deliver certain presentations under certain circumstances.  But never confuse that form of delivery with the power of live delivery, and the infectious energy that feeds all who partake in it.

What do you get when combine energy, enthusiasm… and great content?  You get a “Pocket Sized Pep Talk!”  Tune in and you’ll hear a collection of BLArticles®, conversations, and interviews that are sure to teach, motivate, inspire, and dare I say, entertain!   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pocket-sized-pep-talks/id1497772972

I recently appeared on, “It’s Not Rocket Science! Five Questions Over Coffee,” a fun podcast with Stuart Webb.   You can listen to the podcast here:

• On Facebook facebook.com/INRSFQOC
• On Youtube – https://youtu.be/KJBK0dm-VaU
• On Linkedin – linkedin.com/posts/stuartwebb_a-sought-after-speaker-and-best-selling-author-activity-6858787689332920320-zhxC

If you are looking for something to listen to on your next coffee break you might enjoy this brief chat between me and Tom Bailey, Founder of Succeed Through Speaking and the Succeed Through Speaking podcast. Listen closely if you would like some high value ideas to boost your business results.

You can read the transcript here – https://bit.ly/3BOfU7o

You can watch the podcast here – https://youtu.be/w-QgGvweE2M

You can listen to the podcast here – https://apple.co/2YVGWuN

I Zoomed my way to India to speak with Motivational Diaries, and Ashish Janiani.  We spoke for about 30 minutes about sales processes and training for success. 

   Sales Process To Sales Success || Interview With Robert Jolles – YouTube

If you want to read some “Life Lessons” I was able to share in a recent interview, you’ll find them here:  https://worldclassperformer.com/short-life-lessons-from-robert-jolles/

I had the pleasure of appearing on Robert Miller’s, Follow Your Dream Podcast and thoroughly enjoyed the discussion.  We go way back in this conversation to my first memories of performance… at age four!  I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!  https://follow-your-dream.simplecast.com/episodes/rob-jolles-superstar-salesman

I also mixed it up with a wonderful podcaster, Terry McDougall on her Marketing Mambo show.  As she puts it, we “Cha-cha-chatted!”  If you want to hear sales and marketing go toe-to-toe, you’ll enjoy this show. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1569061/8172686-the-art-of-influence-in-sales-and-marketing-with-rob-jolles

I recently did a podcast with a wonderful, new, and up-and-coming star named Jahmaal Marshall.  His podcast is called, “Listen Then Speak.”  I’ve done a lot of podcasts, but we got into topics I rarely talk about, and I’m quite sure you’ll enjoy the show!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listen-then-speak/id1550684472

I’ve appeared on the “Small Business Advocate Show” with Jim Blasingame for almost 20 years now, and you’ll find dozens of our conversations on his website.  We just sat down a few weeks ago for a great conversation about selling fundamentals and the strategic use of stories.  Here’s a link to over 100 interviews done over the years, including my most recent interview that explores our many behaviors we display that are based more on a default mechanism than actual logic. https://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com/small-business-experts/rob-jolles-134

We posted a video series on delivering amazing online presentations with my friend, Jeremy Webb.  We go over some great stuff including:

• How to Select the Best Equipment for Online Presentations
• Pro Tips for Sustaining Interest in Online Presentations
• How to Look Like a Pro!
• Public Speaking Anxiety Tip
• Virtual Office Setup for Online Presentations

You’ll find the whole playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRO7BsBDl6oL-6ZPW3O01x-g5PiR38ljL

I was recently interviewed on the “Salesman Podcast,” which was a lot of fun. If you’re looking to Change Minds, check out this podcast: https://www.salesman.org/the-simple-step-by-step-process-to-influence-anyone-with-rob-jolles/

I loved talking about the book, Why People Don’t Believe You on a podcast that I’m sure you’ll like called Onward Nation: https://predictiveroi.com/podcasts/rob-jolles/

After 30+ years as a professional speaker and trainer, one of the most common questions I get is this: “How do we make sure the training sticks?”  Take a moment and listen to this podcast; “SalesChats” with John Golden.  If you want to know why most training fails, listen up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR3dDOlTK7U&list=FLxBXKhqz0xBwbUPMqNthAJA&index=2&t=1293s