As working from home is becoming the norm, and meetings shift online, it’s vital for every professional to have an on-camera presence that makes an impact. Improving your on-camera presentation skills can help you stay connected with your teams, clients and colleagues while working remotely.
Almost overnight, our homes have turned into offices and makeshift recording studios. You may be wondering where to place your desk, how to set up the best lighting, where to place your phone or computer camera – all while maintaining a professional delivery and image for virtual meetings.
The good news is there are a few simple techniques to improve your on-camera presence whether you are interviewing for a job, leading Zoom meetings or delivering online presentations.
Test the Technology
Technology helps us stay connected and allows business to continue while we’re working from home. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the technology in advance of the meeting whether you’re using Zoom, WebEx, Uber Conference, Skype or other platform to avoid any tech issues during the meeting. Learning the different features such as screen sharing, chat features and un-muting call participants will allow you to stay focused on the conversation and keep meetings running on time. Remember to turn off phone and email notifications to minimize interruptions.
Create a Professional Set Up
As someone who has worked from home for seven years, I know it takes time to creating the perfect office space. You may not have a separate room where you can set up a desk, but there are a few key things you can do to make sure your look like a pro:
- Make sure your camera is at eye level. Place your monitor, laptop or phone on a stack of books to position it at the right height. This will make you appear your best because you’re looking directly at the audience.
- Good Lighting – Natural light is best, so place your desk or work space in front of a window so the sunlight will shine on your face. If that’s not possible, experiment with lamps or overhead lighting to find the set up that casts light on your face without any shadows. If you’re willing to invest in equipment, a ring light can be purchased for under $100.
- Background – Creating an interesting background can be the item that transforms your set up from bland to professional. Hang pictures on the wall, set up a bookcase or add a small table and chairs if you have the space. Large fabric tapestries also make a great visual background.
- Audio – Set your workspace up in a quiet location and use headphones to minimize background noise.
Dress to the audience
Your favorite cozy sweatpants is the perfect attire for a virtual happy hour with friends. But if you’re meeting co-workers or clients, dress as the audience expects you to appear – professional. Your audience will glean a lot about your video presence from your clothing, hairstyle, make-up and overall appearance. When you are dressed the part, you will make a great impression and can run the meeting or presentation with confidence.
Speak to One Person
Great authors write to an audience of one, even if they know their novels will be read by millions. By writing to one person your message automatically becomes clear and resonates with the individual reader.
The same rule applies when speaking on camera. Whether speaking to an audience of 3, 300 or 30,000, it’s important to direct your presentation to one person.
Have you ever read a book or listened to a talk and thought it was created just for you? Delivering a presentation directly to one person makes each and every audience member feel included. Your message will resonate on a personal level and the presentation will be a hit.
Make it Interactive
The success of your meeting depends upon how engaged the audience is in your message. Audience engagement is necessary during virtual meetings because you’re competing against distractions such as email or social media and you may not be able to see their faces to gauge reactions. There are many ways you can get your audience involved in the conversation from asking questions, setting up a poll or inviting participants to share their view on the topic. Involving your audience in the conversation will hold their attention throughout the presentation and make an impact.
By using these tips you can improve your delivery and on-camera presence for any type of virtual meeting.
Do you want more guidance on enhancing your on-camera presence? Begin by scheduling a complimentary consultation.