Looking Professional for Online Meetings

As so many meetings are moving online, I have created six tips for looking professional in online meetings.

Here are six tips to ‘looking good’ for your calls on Zoom, Facetime, Skype, etc.

1. Work Appropriate Grooming and Attire.
   Just because you are working from home does not mean you can arrive at a meeting in your sweats or jammies, or even dressing ‘above the waist’ with pj bottoms. Dress as if you are attending an in-person business meeting. How we dress projects a certain ‘energy’ and subtlety impacts our credibility.
2. Be Mindful of your Background.
   As a former interior designer, I notice everything in the frame that your web-camera is capturing. Pay attention to the scene behind you and things that might be distracting like people walking behind you. Consider what the entire ‘picture’ looks like. We have all seen photos with the lampshade coming out the top of someone’s head. As best you can, frame you and your background as though you were setting up for a photo.
3. Lighting
   You need natural light or a lamp providing light to your face.  Your computer screen can project an eerie blue light.  Light from a window is best although avoid having a bright window behind you that creates a silhouette effect or very bright light on one side.   I use an inexpensive LED lamp from IKEA that provides light to my face. It can look ‘more interesting’ if the light is to one side rather than straight on.
4. Audio
   Using the microphone built into your device usually works fine, however, for calls with more attendees, a headset typically sounds better.  Also, pay attention to background noises, if your dog starts to bark mute yourself.   Also be aware that noises like rustling paper may not seem distracting to you but will be to others.
5. Screen Sharing
   If you intend to share your screen, make sure the document you plan to show is open and ready to go.  It is frustrating when someone is hunting around their device looking for the file they want to share.  The same is true if you invite others to share their screens, make sure they are ready ahead of time.
6. Hosting
   If you are hosting the meeting, it is your job to maintain a welcoming and professionally run event. You can ask participants to adjust their cameras, microphones, etc. to make the meeting more enjoyable. Also, acknowledge people as they join the call, as best you can. If someone is making distracting noises in a group meeting, you can mute them on your end.  In a large meeting you may need to mute all participants and have them ‘raise their hands’ or ask questions through the chat feature.  As with any meeting, keep to a the schedule and end on time.

Mind Set Monday with Marlene

Speaking of online meetings, the next Mind Set Monday with Marlene is Monday, March 30^th at 9:00 AM MDT.   This week we will addressing the question – what opportunity is this current situation with social isolation affording you and how could you use it to pivot or evolve your business or career?

You are welcome to invite others who you feel would enjoy and benefit from the conversation.