Guest: Rachel Cossar Guest Bio: Rachel Cossar is a leader in the field of nonverbal communication and leadership presence facilitation. As a former nationally ranked athlete and professional ballet dancer, Rachel has a knack for translating unique skills into relatable business skills and competencies. Virtual Sapiens comes as an evolution of Rachel’s combined work as founder of Choreography for Business, a nonverbal communication consulting firm as well as a faculty member with Mobius Executive Leadership and as a leadership presence facilitator with Ariel Group. Rachel has worked with leaders from GE, BCG, Pfizer, Accenture, McKinsey, HBS and more. With the increased dependency of video events as a way to connect and drive impact across organizations, Rachel and her team at Virtual Sapiens are excited to open up a world of access when it comes to one of the most human, and most important skills in business – communication. Key Points: The Evolution of Virtual Sapiens · Virtual Sapiens emerged from Rachel's work experience in leadership coaching, combining cutting-edge AI technology with her expertise in nonverbal communication. · The platform helps professionals improve their communication and leadership presence, particularly in virtual settings. Importance of Nonverbal Communication · Nonverbal communication goes beyond body language, encompassing facial expressions, posture, tone of voice, speech rate, and even things like what you're wearing or how you use hand gestures. · These cues are vital to the way we connect and relate to others, often influencing perceptions more strongly than words. · Rachel emphasizes the power of nonverbal cues, especially in virtual communication, where they can have a more pronounced effect due to the limited sensory feedback compared to in-person interactions. Lessons from Ballet and Teamwork · Rachel's experience as a dancer in the corps de ballet taught her the importance of awareness of others and being attuned to both team dynamics and audience perception. · This awareness is key in business communication—understanding other people's needs and how to build relationships effectively is a transferable skill from dance to leadership and sales. Nonverbal Communication in Virtual Settings · Video communication requires specific adjustments, such as ensuring eye-level camera placement, proper background setup, and the ability to use hand gestures effectively on camera. · Virtual backgrounds can also send a message—whether professional or distracting—so attention to the environment is crucial. · Key nonverbal behaviors in video communication include facial expressions (which should be varied to avoid a flat or disengaged appearance), posture, and voice tone. Challenges of Virtual Communication · Many professionals feel more confident in in-person settings but struggle with virtual interactions, losing connection and presence. · Overcoming these challenges requires intentional practice and mastery of digital presence, something that can be learned through training and AI-assisted tools. AI-powered Coaching with Virtual Sapiens · Virtual Sapiens use AI to analyze video interactions and provide real-time feedback on both verbal and nonverbal communication. · The AI offers insights on hand gestures, facial expressions, tone, filler words, and overall engagement to improve communication effectiveness. Guest Links: Here is the access link that will track any users who activate and unlock. About Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders Download your free gift, The Salesology® Vault. The vault is packed full of free gifts from sales leaders, sales experts, marketing gurus and revenue generation experts. Download your free gift, 81 Tools to Grow Your Sales & Your Business Faster, More Easily & More Profitably. Save hours of work tracking down the right prospecting and sales resources and/or digital tools that every business owner and salesperson needs. If you are a business owner or sales manager with an underperforming sales team, let’s talk. Click here to schedule a time. Please, subscribe to Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! To learn more about our previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to https://podcast.gosalesology.com/ and connect on LinkedIn and follow us on Facebook and Twitter and check out our website at http://www.gosalesology.
