What could be worse than meetings? Of course, virtual meetings! Especially if the work is carried out from home: you are sitting in a rumpled T-shirt, the apartment is a little messy, and children and pets are constantly trying to break into the frame.
Today, however, the level of business negotiations is reaching a new level. Now there is no need for complicated planning of negotiations:
- a trip to another city;
- overnight in hotel;
- search for a meeting room.
Modernity and the development of technology have given numerous applications for video conferencing, for example, iMind.
Here are some tips to help you communicate via video and maintain a sense of dignity for those who, for various reasons, are forced to work remotely.
Arrange so that the light source is in front of you
Then the picture will be clear and professional, not dark and blurry. Also, try to make the light source in front of you the brightest in the room. If the sun is shining through the window, the lamp next to the computer will not help. The camera will most likely focus on natural light, and your face will remain dull and fuzzy.
Sit up straight and lean your head forward
Ideally, the camera you are looking at should be approximately at table level. Don’t call with your laptop on your lap: you’ll look like a hunched-over person with multiple chins. Put your back straight.
Then lean your head slightly forward. This trick will make your face look a little bigger, which will give you a more attentive and photogenic look. When talking, look at the camera, not at the computer screen.
Put on your headphones
Without them, sound problems may occur. The laptop microphone sometimes picks up the speaker’s voice from the speakers and perceives it as your words. And then broadcasts it to everyone else, creating something like an echo. It will not happen with headphones. The sound will go directly to your ears. In addition, in them, you will not be distracted by the conversations of household members from the next room.
Don’t interrupt the speaker and turn off the microphone when you are silent
It’s not just about politeness. Some video communication systems do not handle parallel audio streams well. And if you and a colleague say something at the same time, the rest can hear the words of only one of you. Let someone know that you want to add something in the chat. Or arrange for anyone who wishes to speak to raise their hand.
Also remember to mute your microphone while someone else is talking. In some services, it happens automatically, but it’s better to check again. Otherwise, all meeting participants will hear a dog barking in your house, children making noise, or running water in the bathroom.
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