5 Tips For Improving Your Presence In Video Conferences

As the pandemic continues, workers are being asked to complete more and more important tasks via video conferencing. Even the most important tasks which no firm would ever have contemplated could be done remotely - big client pitches, trials and appellate arguments, firm-wide training and presentations - are now being handled remotely via apps like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

We've all had varying experiences with these remote video conferencing solutions, but there are many simple things everyone can do to improve their chances of a successful video conference when the stakes are high. Here are five simple ideas to increase your chances of accomplishing the goal of your Zoom, Teams, WebX or other video conference meeting:

1. Hair, Wardrobe and Grooming

Perhaps this goes without saying, but if you are giving a big pitch or presenting the findings of a consulting engagement, your personal grooming, hair and wardrobe should reflect the gravity of the meeting. T-shirts and tank tops may have become de rigeur for Zoom office happy hours, but just as it would in the office your appearance should be appropriate for the circumstances.

Even though your lower half will not be visible onscreen, consider dressing in a complete outfit appropriate for the presentation you are about to make. Being in professional clothing head to toe will be a subtle reminder to you as you ease into your remarks that this is an important occasion that demands your attention and focus.

Finally, dress as you might for a professional photo shoot, steering clear of bold patterns and bright colors and more toward dark neutrals to keep the focus on your content. If you must wear a color, stick to jewel tones which tend to show up well on camera for all skin tones.

2. Consider Extra Lighting and A Microphone

Online video conferences can present unique challenges in many respects, but one truly unique challenge is the difficulty an online audience may experience in understanding or following a speaker who is poorly lit or who is speaking inside a cavernous space.

Imagine being inside a conference room where the speaker is perpetually in the shadow, making it impossible to read her lips or make out her expressions as she speaks. Or sitting so far from the speaker that you hear the echo of her voice during her presentation. That simply wouldn't happen in an in-person setting!

An inexpensive clip-on ring light or a slightly more complex videographer's lighting setup could provide the additional lighting you need so that your audience is not left in the dark if your room's lighting is insufficient. You may also want to use headphones with a built-in microphone to make sure you can hear your audience and they can hear you, but if the cost or comfort of these devices is prohibitive for you see if a simple lapel microphone will help you sound more crisp and clear to your audience.

There are plenty of great YouTube videos out there with simple instructions on how to set up your space for a successful video, so search for one that will help you manage the

3. Upgrade Your Internet Service

If you often experience issues with choppy video and sound, it may be time to upgrade your home internet service to accommodate the new burden of video conferencing. Reviews.org has an excellent rundown of the speeds you'll need for effective use of the various Zoom features while Microsoft has provided its own listing of speeds required for top functionality for its Teams app.

4. Ask Your Audience About Their Worst Experiences

Before the presentation, meeting or conference, poll your audience about what issues they've experienced to date with video conferencing and use that feedback to get in front of problems before they happen.

This should be relatively easy if you are giving an internal presentation but for outside vendors or clients, getting the information you need may be a little trickier. A quick phone call to a client contact or a single-question email survey may give you exactly what you need to avoid repeating mistakes made by other service providers (maybe your competitors!) in previous meetings.

5. Organize Your Presentation To Accommodate Questions or Feedback

Everyone has been on a Zoom or Teams call where everyone but the speaker could see an audience member desperately trying to interject with a question or comment without success. If your presentation is one that must allow for questions or participation by other attendees, consider choosing a set strategy to allow the a regular and efficient way to ask questions or make observations rather than trying desperately to break into your comments.

For less formal presentations, consider simply pausing every 2-3 sentences to allow 2-3 seconds of open air for someone else to break into the conversation. In a more structured setting, consider telling the other participants up front that you will pause at 5 minutes, 10 minutes and 20 minutes to address any questions or feedback.

Letting your audience know up front that you have thought about their role in the meeting and are going to make it easy for them to participate will set you off on the right foot and encourage the participation you're hoping to get.

The Atalanta Group coaches established executives and rising leaders to improve their executive presence in all situations. Set up a call now to see how our services can benefit you and your business.