As working from home is now a new normal for many of us, video conferencing technology has become a key tool to connect with teams, virtually meet clients, and deliver presentations. In this article, I’ll provide some practical tips to help you look and sound your best.
Dress The Part
I have read of research indicating that people who wear business attire gain greater respect from the community. I’m sure this is of no surprise, however remember that when you are working from home you are still working, so remember to dress the part. You could probably get away with wearing jeans, but remember that you may have to stand up and walk away from your computer during the call (for example to manage something that comes up at home).
Much like a video shoot, think about the fact that you are going to be on camera. Ensure you look neat and professional: wear make up if you feel you need to. Personally, I notice that when I dress well I also perform better. I had a colleague who worked from home full-time for many years, and one of her “tricks” was that she would get dressed in a suit before heading into her home office — even if she wasn’t doing any video conferencing that day.
Manage Your Background
Run a test call by yourself and see what it is in the background. It might be a bare wall, a bookshelf or another room. Have a think about what looks best. A bookshelf can look OK but can be too busy a background and be a distraction. A bare wall is fine because it leaves your audience to focus on you, however a little bit of “set dressing” can help (such as having a plant in the background or a picture). Much like in a video shoot, having some depth in the background looks nice (for example a neat room behind you in the distance).
Work with what you have though: you are working from home of course, so you may only have a small space to work with. Whatever your background however, remove clutter and ensure it looks as professional as possible.
Lighting Matters
Again, just like in a video shoot you want to be lit well. In video (just like in the film industry and in photography), we use “three-point lighting”: a key light, fill light and back light. In basic terms, have a light source directly lighting your face from the left or right side, plus a softer light that fills the other side of your face, and a light shining onto the back of your head if possible.
When done correctly, this creates a rim of light around you: separating you from the background. Be careful not to have a really bright light source behind you (such the sun coming through a window) because this will make you become a silhouette. In any case, work with what you have to make sure that your face is as clear as possible (this means no shadows across your face!).
Sound Your Best
If your computer’s microphone is good, great. Run some tests of the audio quality — such as doing a test call with a friend. If there are any issues, invest in a good microphone that you can plug into your computer. To reduce echoes in the room, consider sound dampening. For example, add a carpet on the floor to absorb some sound.
I hope these tips help you embrace the world of video conferencing. If you have any questions, get in touch any time.
