Kathy’s Home & Garden Tips – How To Make Your Presence Known During Video Conferencing

Many of us are finding a large part of our day involves video conferencing. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of employees working from home was continually rising. While many of us are old hands at this technology, there are a few things to keep in mind to make a good impact at these meetings.

Frame yourself wisely. Your head and shoulders should dominate the screen. Don’t cut your head off, but seeing your entire torso is too much. The further away you are, the more obscure you look. Pay attention to your background. It should look professional with no distracting elements that take attention away from you. 

Focus on looking into your camera, not at your colleagues. This can be difficult to do without practicing. But doing this is precisely what we have always been taught- look everyone in the eye. It will increase the impact of your points. Be mindful that you are still on camera. Fight the urge to multitask. You never want to be caught unaware when asked a question or thought of as not fully engaged. 

Do maintain a strong voice and do speak louder than usual. By doing so, you will grab and hold peoples’ attention. It will keep you from mumbling, and it’s harder to speak too quickly when you talk in a strong, clear voice.

Unmute only when you are speaking. Doing so keeps out distractions like clocks ticking, typing, or simply the sound of your breathing. Distractions like children and pets are spontaneous and understood by all. But if you are chairing the meeting or have a presentation, make sure children and pets are kept busy elsewhere during the session. 

Make use of the chat window. Show your support of others in the meeting and ask questions to colleagues. Are you running the meeting? Link the agenda in the chat window. If you refer to articles or websites, include links to these in the chat window also. 

As video conferencing becomes a normal routine of our work lives, utilize these tips to make your presence known during your next virtual meeting.

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO