Curate your environment before you present

- When you think about what goes into making a great virtual presentation, it's not just the content that you need to pay attention to or even your delivery. Your virtual environment will be key to making you look confident and competent when you present. Let's start off with your background. A messy bedroom is going to give off a very different impression than a background that's more simple and uncluttered. Remember, your whole home doesn't have to be perfect. We just want to focus on the space behind you. I've seen room dividers work well. I had a coworker who hung up a curtain behind him. You may even choose a blank wall. There are a lot of options, and you can get as creative with it as you want. Don't forget about what's in front of you too. Make sure you have a light source facing your face. A window is ideal for natural light, but you can also use ring lights and larger photo soft boxes, like I have in front of me right now. I also love lighting for this reason. Good lighting gives you more confidence because it makes you look better and more professional. Keep these two factors in mind when preparing for your next virtual presentation and you will be well on your way to impress.