The importance of grooming BEFORE Zooming
Zoom is here to stay. "Zoom" is now defined as a cloud-based video conferencing service mainly used to virtually meet with others. This can be done by video or audio-only or both. It has joined a list of social media interactions like face-time, skype, video-calling , and now with the help of 5G connections/bandwidth, is a popular tool where two and up to to 100 participants can partake in one conversation. All can connect and communicate (see and hear one another in real time). Licensing may soon be needed for up to 500 add-on people.
While this grew from a need to work from home because of the Corona Virus, Covid-19, guests often act as if they are in their homes, and if you want to come across as professional, this is a no-no. Sadly, people neglect to groom for this...
"It takes a human less than 7 seconds to form a first opinion of who you are, and those opinions last a long time, so you want to get it right the first time and every time thereafter"
Here are some of the background necessary to make that first impression ...
Communicate professionally: With a television broadcast, other people become in control of how you look, providing a sense of ease and helps shift some blame when called out. With Zoom, you become responsible for everything from your look, the background, the lighting, and even when and how you appear when talking. Regardless if you are the host or one of the visitors (guests), you have a mute button that should be respected when not airing a view.
The background: Don’t for one second think the background does not say to others who you are. You may choose to have a blank wall or simply one picture behind you, but most people already choose to sit in front of a bookshelf. It helps audio not to sound hollow, and it is a brilliant way of allowing others to see what your subject may be about by looking/reading titles of books in the background. Add 1 or maximum three framed pictures facing at a slight angle. Never portray a mirror or a window or even wear sunglasses or normal spectacles that may reflect unnecessary activities around or behind you.
Distance and angle towards camera: The best distance is around 75cm to 1m away from the camera. The camera is where your audience/meeting is and eye-contact is key to build trust and understanding. Eyes should be leveled where the camera is on your device (not looking up or down on the camera) and not where the picture of the other person or persons are. The best and fast way do do that is to stack a bunch of books under your laptop until you see the webcam eye to eye. Starting off, connecting this way is hard but it does become easier to maintain eye contact. If the broadcast involves a tutorial, you may move around and perform actions needed, but always keep in mind that sound is much less perfectly picked up once you are more than 3 metres away from the camera.
Clothing: All the rules of dressing for success from The Style Bible still apply, accept for the fact that you have to stay away from too bright or busy colours. These include white or black which creates a nasty blob on screen, and intricate patterns distract from any message you voice. It remains important, if not more than ever, that your personal grooming and wardrobe messages send the perfect message. Many jokes are made about dressing “only the upper half of your body”, and while this is true, it subcontiously contributes to the amount of confidence you portray. This confidence is contagious.
Movement: Become body language savoir-faire. Sit up straight, square your shoulders with the camera, do not cross your arms, lower your voice, keep eye contact with the camera, and limit hand movements. Much more important is: Don’t fidget. Don’t do any of those things you do that make you comfortable like tap your fingers, play with jewelry, touch your face, etc. Your communication may come across is incredible. Too much movement (depending on bandwidth and connection of your tool) almost always comes across as jerky. Practice this by videoing yourself and being your own worst critic, checking for exactly these traits. It is important to project calmness, by limiting any hand or head movements in access. Place the palms of your hands down on/in your lap or on your desk. Candor and credibility can be shown by using a once off incidental “open arm” gesture. “Virtual hugs” are already the popular thing to do, so be gentle when you imitate an embrace. Almost regardless of cultural differences, the crossing of arms allows and presents, and are perceived as a closed sign – one of ambivalence and/or resistance.
“No matter how you feel – get up, dress up, show up and never give up”. – Regina Brett
Looks: You have to wash your face brush your teeth, comb your hair, and even accessorize with minimalism and with great care. Remember to use make-up sparingly but professionally. Groom, and groom again. Trim nose hair (No-one wants to look up your nostrils) and don’t flop your hair. Lightly nibble your lips before going life on screen for a healthier gloss. Remember to think of smiling before you smile. That way slapping a smile on your face comes across as much more sincere. Watchers respond to how you present yourself, so if you want a smile, you must give a smile. If you are not enabling the video preview before you join, have a look in the mirror, the same way you would befor eyou go out to social or for a meeting. That way, you can catch nasty folds or stains on/in your shirt/blouse - or spinach in your teeth.
Distractions: Stop unnecessary interruptions like you would on radio or on television or any form of streaming, and the easiest way is to set your device on “Do Not Disturb mode” whenever you start screen sharing - mostly to stop notices of incoming messages. Close the door to the room you are in, and tell others in the house that you are about to “broadcast”.
Most Zoom users are good about muting, but in large meetings there’s usually at least one person who forgets to hit that mute button and ends up broadcasting a private conversation, baby cries, or … worse. This is extremely irritating to many. The host has the ultimate power to mute any visitor/guest/participant, but you have one too.
More free articles on www.simonrademan.co.za
A great book on style www.thestylebible.co.za
Facts and/or information not in this article:
I remain confident we all want the same things in life: look great, be safe, be happy…
When you are in public and around people:
- Wear a mask https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/fashion-embraces-mask-2020-simon-rademan/
- Wear a scarf https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/scarf-ready-like-newest-style-icon-simon-rademan/
- Wear gloves https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/what-should-we-do-our-hands-post-covid-19-simon-rademan/
The silent language of leaders is a good read by Carol Kinsey Goman.
Rolling out of bed and right into a company meeting, having coffee or even doing makeup while talking, is obiously great with a bestie, but not with your employer or client. Most programs of Zoom has a “Touch up my appearance” box in Zoom’s video settings menu. It has the basic functions like 1) a soft blur to skin tones, 2) soft lens-focus and even 3) a setting smoothing out wrinkles, blemishes, and other little imperfections. Unless of course, if you were - or had a bookshelf and the look - of Karl Lagerfeld
Most laptop webcams and mobile devices are ultra low-resolution, and if you have some money laying around, you can get way better specs, and become incredibly professional and much more presentable with a separate webcam. That is, if you want to look your best every time.