Three simple ways to improve your video calls

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way the business world communicates. While video conferencing is far from new, before the pandemic a lot of people in the business world resisted this technology. Conducting business meetings over the Internet using webcams is now unavoidable. So here are my three handy tips for improving your video call experience.

Look at the lens

When engaging in a Zoom call we all naturally look at the eyes of the person we're speaking to on the screen. We have been conditioned to do this by thousands of years of human interaction. The net result is nobody making eye contact with anyone else during Zoom calls. You can easily make a great impression during a Zoom session by looking directly at your webcam / phone camera lens while talking. Try it next time you're chatting and you'll see what an impact you'll have whoever you are talking to.

Let there be light

Don't sit in the dark! Part of the reason Zoom video calls have become so popular is that they give us the opportunity to read body language and facial expressions. If the person you're speaking to can't see you then trying to be fully present in the chat becomes challenging. It's also incredibly important to get the light source in the right place. The most common mistake many people make with Zoom calls is to take them while sat in front of a window. You don't look like a welcoming, engaging conversationalist. You look like a police informer from a b-movie.

Don't shout

Just because the person you're speaking to is many miles away it doesn't mean you have to shout. All the usual rules of human interaction still apply to Zoom calls. Nobody likes being shouted at. If you have to raise your voice to be heard then either get closer to your camera / microphone or adjust the input levels in the Zoom settings.

If you would like more simple ways to get more about of video calls then have a listen to this free podcast episode - Top tips for better video calls...