Design Your Personal Meeting Space to Host Better Virtual Meetings

Your personal meeting space is important, as this is what allows you to come across in a professional and appealing manner. If you are crunched over on a stationary chair with a poor laptop microphone and camera, it is nearly impossible to show the best version of yourself. Thus, it is important to ensure that you have good mobility and flexibility in your personal meeting space. 

Here are some tips to improve your personal meeting space.

Install two screens/monitors

Using two monitors allows you to view your presentation on one while keeping an eye on the audience and the chat on the other. In this way, it is easier to check in on the audience to ensure proper engagement. 

Use an external microphone

To make sure that your sound is clear, it is a good idea to install an external microphone. Most modern webcams have microphones in them, which is another potential approach to improve your audio. Using a proper microphone also allows you to animate yourself by using body language, eye contact, moving hands, general movements etc.

Use an external webcam

To make sure that your picture is clear and high-definition, install an external webcam on top of your monitor. Good webcams also include proper microphones, so you might as well ensure good video and audio in one go. Also, attach a small post-it with a smiley face next to your camera, as this will remind you to look into the camera and smile.

Get a lamp to light up your face

Add artificial light in a poorly lit room to ensure that your face is clearly visible to others in the virtual meeting. Lighting up your face allows the audience to decode your emotions and general facial expressions. Daylight lamps can really make a difference by lighting up your face in a virtual meeting.

Use an adjustable chair and table

To ensure that you can place yourself in a comfortable and ergonomic position, get a proper office chair and an adjustable table. Your camera should always be in eye-level to capture your best angle. If you do not have an adjustable table, an ironing board can be used as an alternative, when you need to stand up during a presentation.

Make a personal environment

Creating a personal environment around you (pictures, memorabilia, furniture etc.) helps establish trust as it emphasizes the human aspects of the interaction. Thus, sharing personal aspects of your life in your surroundings can facilitate a stronger bond between you and your audience. However, your surroundings should not take away focus from the dialogue, so don't overdue it.