VIRTUAL OFFICE – “LOOK LIKE A PRO”
We’ve all gone virtual. Which means now is the opportune time to give a hard look at how you present yourself on-line. To build trust and rapport more quickly, it pays to strategize about how to look professional during your online meetings. Start by giving thought to your virtual office.
- A Professional Remote Office: Like spinach in your teeth or your zipper undone, a bad video-call is something only your best friend will call to your attention. Even if you have the best virtual presentation ever — there is a good chance that your lighting, your backdrop, your connection or even your unconscious habits are making you look less professional than you would like.
- Choose your setting: Create a professional setting with a quiet calm office. Carpet with soft furnishings tend to create the best audio during virtual meetings. If your room doesn’t have carpeting, an area rug on the floor and some floor pillows can reduce reverberation and create a warmer sound.
- Background: We don’t want to see your dirty laundry piled on top of your unmade bed. In fact, we don’t want to see your bed at all. It is distracting. Any distraction can take away from your message, be it a wall of posters, kitchen cabinets or nick-knacks. A tidy bookcase in the background offers a professional touch. However, the safest approach is to simply have a neutral wall color in the background. Shades of grey or cream work well vs. white. *Many of today’s virtual meeting rooms (i.e. Zoom) give you the option of adding a background, but be careful that it is neutral and professional. Practice with the background before you use it.
- Know Your Platform: Understand how your online video conferencing service works, i.e. Zoom or GoToWebinar, etc. Tech challenged? Then study-up so you appear professional when you switch from your image to your screen image. Understand how chat, surveys, comments as well as other functions work so that you appear smooth and professional.
- Use laptop, not phone or I-pad: While in your virtual office use your laptop or desktop computer. Smartphones tend to be very convenient, but they can be hard to balance. Plus, there is limited ability to see all meeting members on the screen space. Even your I-pad has limitations on being able to see all meeting members on screen.
- Raise you webcam to eye-level: Put your phone/I-pad/computer on your desk and we get a clear look up your nostrils. Do put your computer on a sturdy stack of books or a box. Adjust it so your eyes are eye-level to your camera. For a clear picture use a USB camera (under $100) and position it at eye level.
- Adjust your framing: Position yourself about arm’s length from your screen. Too close, you look like a cartoon character. Too far, you look little and lost. Make sure you have a bit of space between the top of your hair and the top of the screen.
- Audio: Good sound is critical. Distance yourself from any background noise. But if you can’t escape the brouhaha plug in your headphones with a built in microphone. It will help your voice cut through the noise more clearly. Best to have a quite spot and use a USB microphone ($100-$150).
- Good Lighting: Lighting is one of the most critical aspects of creating a professional remote office. Ensure your desk has a strong but soft light that can illuminate your face during your virtual meetings. (Tip: purchase an inexpensive 10” LED ring light with tripod for under $25). Bright and balanced is best. Not sure about your lighting … ask a friend to critique before you go live. Typical lighting mistakes include:
- An overhead light gives you a halo and produces raccoon eyes that also make you look tired.
- Lights located anywhere behind within view of the camera is like shining a flashlight in someone’s eyes
- Experiment with your lighting so that you don’t look like a lurking shadow with no eyes or half your face is covered in shadows.
Michelle ‘hard-hat’ Hanchey founded Hanchey.com out of a passion to help you improve the quality of your public speaking, executive presentations and leadership skills, Michelle “hard hat” Hanchey is the first to ask, “What’s in your toolbox? And how can I help?”