In the blink of an eye, we went from lighthearted face-to-face chats to six feet of separation, from boardroom meetings to strictly video-only conversations. For most of us, this is a new way of communicating.
It can be awkward. There are delays, weird pauses, everyone talking at once, cats dancing across keyboards, dogs barking, kids running up to the screen to say “Hiiiiiii”—it’s a WFH jungle.
It’s going to take some time for all of us to adjust to our new surroundings. To help you enhance your video conversations, here are few best practices.
Get your home office camera-ready
Take a look around your office. Are there any areas that could use some spring cleaning? A stack of paper, dusty lamp, cereal bowl, anything could be a visual distraction. Then simply clean it up.
Let there be light
Many home offices are in a back room. Sometimes there is a window. If so, is the light flattering? Generally, you want to face the light, which will illuminate your face. If your back is to the window, it could cast dark shadows. If your desk is against a wall, maybe it’s time to reorganize your office and find a new desk placement to look your absolute best. If you don’t have a window, check your lights and make sure you have the right bulbs to highlight your beautiful smile.
Work your angles
Most laptops have a camera, but is that the only option? If it is, no worries, use what you have. Sit up straight, look at the camera and be yourself. If you have an opportunity to use a video conferencing kit, position the camera towards your face and adjust up and down for best placement.
Someone is always watching
If you were in a face-to-face meeting, would you have your phone on the table? Would you be check your email? While these sound funny, a lot of times people forget that others can see you. It doesn’t sound like much, but if you see someone on your team on their phone, gently remind them that you can see them.
Read more commentary by Rebecca Hourihan here.
Be flexible
Sometimes technology just doesn’t work. Whether it is the audio, video, screen share—or all of it. More people are WFH than ever before and more are on the internet than ever in history. At this time, everyone understands. Everyone is trying to accommodate. If things aren’t going well on the call, use this grace period and kindly ask to reschedule. These circumstances are hectic and everyone has sympathy for these business interruptions. Hey, we’re all just trying to get through this together and stay sane doing it.
Even with physical isolation, we can still come together. Video conference is a blessing and a clear reminder that we are all connected. Use these tips to help enhance your conferencing skills. Hope you have great video conversations!
Know more ways to improve video conferencing? Please share your insights and experience in the comments.
Thanks for reading and Happy Marketing!
Rebecca Hourihan, AIF, PPC, is the founder and CMO of 401(k) Marketing, which she founded to assist qualified experts operate a professional business with professional marketing materials and ongoing awareness campaigns.
