On ZOOM: Your Background Shows More Than You Think It Does
Most all of us who’ve been using Zoom for a long time are very aware of so called ‘Virtual Backgrounds’ — this pictures you can use to be behind you on when you’re on Zoom.
[By the way, please do use them with a proper green screen — strange things happen when you don’t.]
But we might not be aware of the difference they make to you AND to the people you’re Zoom-ing with. Something my great friend Daniel Priestley said years ago gives you the clue: “Environment,” said Dan, “dictates your performance.”
And background pictures absolutely do — you kind of have to ‘live up to’ the background you set. And the backgrounds produce different tones for the conversations.
For example, when I use this background (actually a picture taken from my home office window here in Singapore) the conversations are noticeably ‘softer’:
When I ‘teleport’ myself to this one, the conversations are much more ‘on point’ and ‘quicker’:
And if the conversation is (as it often is) about the Global Goals, I can ‘overwhelm’ just for 20 seconds with this one:
And mid-afternoons, this produces a more 'relaxed' kind of feeling:
Do let me know what your ‘background experience’ is.
Amazing what we can do these days — moments of wonderment are all around us.
Make your Wednesday full of them.
* Life counts * Dreams do come true *
4 年Simple but effective- thanks Paul.
?? C-Suite Human Resources & People Leader ?? Organisational Transformer & Designer
4 年Thanks for highlighting this Paul Dunn, I use various backgrounds though potentially do not link as you have. Once again you are the master of the journey and the unseen.
GTM Engineer | intelligentresourcing.co
4 年It's a cool feature to have some fun with.
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4 年I've been using it since it was first released by Zoom Paul, however, I do love the insights you have shared here about how it can affect the mood of your audience. On a call with a group of clients yesterday someone from Malaysia asked if I was using a green screen. I showed them how it works and changed my background to a beach scene. Interestingly the mood changed almost instantly from a learning environment to a very relaxed casual vibe.
Entrepreneur, Founder & Podcaster
4 年Great article Paul. I've been using that since I learned from you on our interview. The library bookshelf background so far is my favourite.