CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – NOVEMBER 18, 2021-2
THINGS NOT TO DO DURING A VERTUAL MEETING
- 1. Low-quality equipment
There is quite possibly nothing worse than not being able to hear someone when they are sharing important information. Is that happening to you when it’s your turn to speak? Most video conferencing tools use your laptop of desktop’s default microphone to pick up your voice—a tiny hole in your screen that might not be anywhere near your mouth. Modern technology has made it easier for devices to pick up our voices, but if Zoom is becoming a big part of your work life, you may want to invest in a professional microphone. There are small, inexpensive versions that you can use as a headset, and there are more pricey versions that sit on your desk. It’s up to you to choose what your investment should look like. Bottom line, how you sound is just as important as how you look; it’s even more important if you are not turning your camera on!
- Bad lighting in your recording area
Unless you’re continuously making usable recordings or facilitating important trainings, there’s no need to make your video conferencing session look like a professional photoshoot. However, there is also no need for your face to be so out of contrast that your listeners can’t read your lips when you talk. We may decide that a window is the most non-distracting background we can find, but we would be wrong! The light coming in from a window behind you creates a contrasted outline around your head and face, making it hard to see you on screen. Try closing the shades to block out the extra light or turn your setup around so that you are facing the window, and the light comes in from behind your computer. Imagine the great image when your face lights up with the natural light of the window in front of you!
Another idea to increase your lighting is to invest in a light-diffusing lamp that you can place, yet again, behind your computer or webcam; the light should always come from behind and above your camera. You may simply turn on two desk lamps that you already own! Turn on your camera to test out your options before your next meeting.
- There’s too much background noise
Finally, let’s talk about what’s going on quite literally behind the scenes. Perhaps the best and the hardest part of working from home is that we can remain close with our families and/or roommates. However, not everyone is used to going to work with you! Their lives must carry on, as does their noise. When you get ready for a web conference, are you in the room alone? Is there a possibility for interruption? Just because a possible distraction in your home office may not show up on screen visually, it could show up audibly very easily (especially if you’ve invested in a microphone). Don’t blame this on the others around you—take it into your own hands and find a private space to work. If that’s not as easily accessible, practice turning your microphone off or muting yourself when you aren’t expected to respond or present.
These 5 mistakes are tough habits to break, but if you practice each time you log on, you will be the most professional and effective video conference participant there ever was!
