When you're video conferencing with people who work and live in faraway locations, you don't have a chance to impress them with your charming personality over lunch or pull them aside to make some candid comments to help them see your enthusiasm for the project. Your on-camera interactions are the only way the people on the other end of the video conference have to judge you â€" and your company.
That is the reason why looking good on video conferencing is so important. While people perhaps should not judge each other on looks alone, looks definitely matter when you are communicating over distance using state-of-the-art technology.
Here are seven great tips for always looking your best when you interact via video conference:
1. Use a high-quality system. Good equipment conveys light, detail and sound better than bad or outdated gear, so upgrade your system as frequently as necessary to stay on top of technology. Today's video conferencing solutions commonly have hi-def cameras, top quality mics and professional switching technology to make every one of your interaction smooth, colourful and bright.
2. Don't skimp on light. There is a reason television stations and local theatres hire people to help them control lighting. Bright lights reduce the look of wrinkles and eliminate unbecoming shadows, but too much light can make you look shiny and nervous. Heaps of soft, white light usually works best, and there's nothing wrong with strategically placing lights behind computers or concealing them round the room if necessary to make everyone look their best.
3. Make eye contact as frequently as possible. It's easy for people to feel disconnected or disengaged when listening to a long presentation by video conference, so make frequent eye contact with the camera. This is good etiquette, also , just as eye contact is vital when meeting with people face to face.
4. Avoid wearing distracting patterns. With older equipment, tight patterns can make a distracting strobe effect that might be more interesting to the people on the other end of the meeting than what you say. Whether or not you're using the latest equipment nevertheless , viewers will not be in a position to appreciate the pattern on your tie or your fascinating piece of jewellery, so stick to solids and straightforward, elegant adornments.
5. Sit up straight if you can. We all look more professional when we sit up straight and keep our shoulders back, but good posture can often be hard to maintain during a long meeting. Selecting a supportive chair and being mindful of when you are being watched and when you aren't can help you look your very best when somebody's actually looking.
6. Be conscious of camera angles. An expertly installed video conferencing system will have well-positioned cameras, but standing or sitting too close to a camera can distort your features, giving you a humourous and distracting appearance. Looking down into a camera can also make your face appear broader, making you look fat.
7. Do some testing. If a meeting is extremely important or if you're new to video conferencing, don't be afraid to do some test presentations â€" and record them to help notice and correct errors. Even the best equipment can be used incorrectly or to less-than-optimum effect, so take a little time to test how you interact with your company's equipment to be certain you're using it as effectively as possible.
We all want to look great, naturally, but in business looking good can mean the difference between making the sale and making a fool of yourself.
That is the reason why looking good on video conferencing is so important. While people perhaps should not judge each other on looks alone, looks definitely matter when you are communicating over distance using state-of-the-art technology.
Here are seven great tips for always looking your best when you interact via video conference:
1. Use a high-quality system. Good equipment conveys light, detail and sound better than bad or outdated gear, so upgrade your system as frequently as necessary to stay on top of technology. Today's video conferencing solutions commonly have hi-def cameras, top quality mics and professional switching technology to make every one of your interaction smooth, colourful and bright.
2. Don't skimp on light. There is a reason television stations and local theatres hire people to help them control lighting. Bright lights reduce the look of wrinkles and eliminate unbecoming shadows, but too much light can make you look shiny and nervous. Heaps of soft, white light usually works best, and there's nothing wrong with strategically placing lights behind computers or concealing them round the room if necessary to make everyone look their best.
3. Make eye contact as frequently as possible. It's easy for people to feel disconnected or disengaged when listening to a long presentation by video conference, so make frequent eye contact with the camera. This is good etiquette, also , just as eye contact is vital when meeting with people face to face.
4. Avoid wearing distracting patterns. With older equipment, tight patterns can make a distracting strobe effect that might be more interesting to the people on the other end of the meeting than what you say. Whether or not you're using the latest equipment nevertheless , viewers will not be in a position to appreciate the pattern on your tie or your fascinating piece of jewellery, so stick to solids and straightforward, elegant adornments.
5. Sit up straight if you can. We all look more professional when we sit up straight and keep our shoulders back, but good posture can often be hard to maintain during a long meeting. Selecting a supportive chair and being mindful of when you are being watched and when you aren't can help you look your very best when somebody's actually looking.
6. Be conscious of camera angles. An expertly installed video conferencing system will have well-positioned cameras, but standing or sitting too close to a camera can distort your features, giving you a humourous and distracting appearance. Looking down into a camera can also make your face appear broader, making you look fat.
7. Do some testing. If a meeting is extremely important or if you're new to video conferencing, don't be afraid to do some test presentations â€" and record them to help notice and correct errors. Even the best equipment can be used incorrectly or to less-than-optimum effect, so take a little time to test how you interact with your company's equipment to be certain you're using it as effectively as possible.
We all want to look great, naturally, but in business looking good can mean the difference between making the sale and making a fool of yourself.
About the Author:
Paul Fraser, owner of a home automation company, writes about everything related to video conferencing solutions and other business communication issues in an attempt to help business people around the world make better connections. Better connections mean more sales and improved customer relationships.
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