How to Speak Confidently on Teams Calls

25th September 2026

Quick answer: Speaking on Teams can feel harder because you can't always tell from people's faces whether they're following you, especially when cameras are off or you're sharing your screen. Don't guess. Finish your point, ask directly whether people are following, and keep some participant reactions visible when your setup allows it.

You're explaining something on a Teams call. A few people have their cameras on, somebody is looking down, another person is staring at a different part of their screen, and three other people are represented by circles with their initials in them.

You start watching the faces you can see.

Somebody looks away and you wonder whether you've lost them. Nobody reacts to the next point, so you start explaining it in more detail in case it wasn't clear.

Meanwhile, you're still trying to make the point you came to make.

Some clients have told me they find it harder to speak confidently on Teams because they get less non-verbal feedback from the people they're speaking to.

They can't see facial expressions as clearly, they can't always tell where somebody is looking, and if they're sharing their screen they may not be able to see people's faces at all.

Why do some people find it harder to speak confidently on Teams?

Some of the reactions you normally get from other people are missing or harder to read on Teams.

In person, somebody might nod while you're speaking, smile when they agree or look puzzled when something needs explaining.

On a video call, somebody may have their camera off. Their picture may be small. They may be looking at another screen. Their microphone may be muted, so you also lose the small sounds people make while you're speaking.

Research into video meetings has found that eye gaze, gestures and small verbal responses are harder to pick up online.

That doesn't mean Teams causes speaking anxiety.

It does mean you may have less information about how people are responding while you're talking.

What should you do when you can't tell how people are reacting?

Don't decide what somebody thinks from a reaction you can't read properly.

You see somebody looking away and think they're bored.

They stop moving and you wonder whether they're listening.

Nobody nods after a point you thought was important, so you start explaining it again.

But you don't know what any of those things mean.

The person looking away might be reading the document you're discussing, taking notes or checking something on another screen.

In a 2026 study of people giving scientific presentations, speakers reported more communication anxiety and mental effort when a virtual audience behaved in an obviously distracted and unsupportive way.

That study used clear signs of disengagement. A colleague glancing away from their Teams camera isn't the same thing.

If you can't tell what a reaction means, don't change what you're saying because of it.

Finish the point you were making.

If you need to know whether people are following, ask.

You could say:

“Any questions before I continue?”

“Is there anything there you want me to go back over?”

Now the people listening can tell you whether they need anything explained again.

Making responses explicit rather than trying to read them from a screen gives you something to work with. Instead of guessing from somebody's face, you've asked them directly.

What should you do when sharing your screen hides everyone?

If sharing your screen means you lose sight of everybody you're speaking to, change the display where your setup allows it.

Some clients have told me they can see people while they're talking, then share a presentation or document and the faces disappear. At that point, they start speaking without being able to see whether anybody is reacting.

If you're presenting PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams' PowerPoint Live can keep participant videos, reactions and raised hands visible while you present.

If you're sharing something else, arrange your Teams window so you can still see some participants if your screen setup allows it.

You don't need to watch people's faces throughout the presentation.

But if you use their reactions to notice when somebody has a question or when you need to pause, keep some of those reactions visible where you can.

If you can't see anybody while you're presenting, give people a clear point at which they can respond.

You can say:

“Before I move on, is there anything you want me to clarify?”

Or:

“I'll stop there for a moment. Any questions on that part?”

You now have an answer from them rather than having to interpret the silence.

Should everyone keep their camera on?

Not necessarily.

If seeing people helps you while you're speaking, you might be tempted to ask everybody to keep their camera on.

The research doesn't support such a simple answer.

In a four-week study of employees taking part in virtual meetings, having cameras on increased fatigue. Greater fatigue was also associated with lower voice and engagement during meetings.

So somebody having their camera off doesn't tell you whether they're interested in what you're saying.

Treat the camera being off as part of the meeting rather than as a reaction to you.

If you need a response, ask for one.

When you can't see enough to know how people are responding, asking them will give you more useful information than trying to work it out from a small video window or a blank screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I speak more confidently on Teams when I can't see people's reactions?

Ask directly rather than trying to read the screen. At a natural pause, say "Any questions before I continue?" or "Is there anything you'd like me to go back over?" You get an actual answer rather than having to interpret whether somebody looking away means they're bored or just taking notes.

Why is it harder to speak confidently on Teams than in person?

In person you get continuous feedback — nods, expressions, small sounds — that tells you whether people are following. On Teams that feedback is reduced or missing entirely. Cameras may be off, pictures are small, and microphones are muted. You're speaking with less information about how people are responding, which makes it harder to feel confident about whether you're getting through.

Does having cameras off affect how confidently you can speak on a Teams call?

It can make it harder to read how people are responding, but research into virtual meetings found that having cameras on increases participant fatigue, which tends to reduce engagement. Rather than asking people to turn cameras on, ask for responses directly at key points in the discussion.

How do you speak confidently on Teams when you're sharing your screen?

If sharing your screen hides participant videos, adjust your display so you can still see some reactions alongside what you're sharing. In PowerPoint, Teams' PowerPoint Live keeps participant videos and reactions visible while you present. If you can't see anyone, give people a specific point to respond: "I'll stop there — any questions on that part?"

How do you know if people are following you on a Teams call?

You ask them. Trying to work it out from small video windows or people's expressions on screen is unreliable. A direct question at the end of a key point — "Does that make sense so far?" — tells you whether people need anything clarified and removes the need to guess from reactions you can't read properly.

About the author

Andy O'Sullivan is a London-based public speaking coach and five-times bestselling author. He works one-to-one with professionals whose fear of public speaking holds them back from speaking up in meetings, delivering presentations, and progressing in their career.

If you'd like to find out whether one-to-one coaching would be the right fit, get in touch here.