Zooming - are you making the most of it

Zoom is now a mainstream way of interacting in business globally since covid. The word ‘Zoom’ has now become a “’proprietary eponym” – that is a brand name that as become the generic word for the class of objects. We use phrases “are we going to Zoom”. Meaning Video conferencing.

This piece I've written, you might think would be better placed 2 years ago when everyone was relatively new with Zoom. But I’ve noticed in zoom meetings of late that maybe for a lot of us we have become complacent about how we use this medium considering the impression you leave with the people your meeting with - me being also very guilty of this. The impression you leave is still important, whether on zoom or in person, just it has always been.

So just as you would dress appropriately for professional meetings, you should consider the setup of your zoom interaction.

Here are the top things to consider or remind yourself of:

Dress appropriately.

Just because you’re on zoom, doesn’t mean you get to slack off on your dress standards from the norm of meeting face to face, without similar consequences. Keep up your standard of dress, makeup, hair and of course a smile on your face.

Quality of your camera

You might find that the quality of your camera is not adequate to give a clear and accurate view of you! Particularly of older laptops. Its an easy fix – buy a reasonable plug-in camera, they aren’t very expensive.

Quality of your microphone

Perhaps the most important of all on this list. If people can’t hear you clearly, it obviously can disrupt the flow of your whole meeting and could also cause misunderstandings. As with the camera, the standard microphone on your laptop or computer might not be of good quality. Again easy fix to get a plugin mic, or headset. Particularly if you have meeting with more than just you in front of your laptop. Most laptop microphones only have the ability to pick up sound close to the laptop. If someone if far away it might not pick it up.

Camera angle

Make sure the camera angle is pointing straight to your face, maybe a tad raised from your line of sight. You don’t want your camera pointing up your nostrils, or so high about your face that you cant see the expressions around your mouth.

Lighting

Lighting is maybe the most commonly neglected on this list. We often have our computers on our desks and our desks up against a wall. You need to have light behind the camera, and not the main light source behind you or your head. otherwise you become a shadow. Consider where the light comes from during the day and at night (if your having early morning meetings or at night).

Place the desk perhaps at a window and get a lamp that can sit behind the computer.

Background

Have a look at what is behind you.. Other than how you present yourself, this is going to make a huge impression on what others think of you – like your office space would.

Think about the space you’re in. You can be creative with that space to represent you, your business or something else.

Consider what might come into the background, other household members etc. These can cause big disturbances and distract from your meeting.

If nothing else you can use a generated background. But try to refrain from using these, as they can on occasion cover up your face, and it just doesn’t look as good as a properly setup space.

Take note if you’re in an office block with glass walls, ?you might not want the person your in a meeting with to be able to see through those glass walls, it might be distracting, or in some cases the glass can reflect also whats on your screen!

Device:

Consider the device. Most of the points mentioned here can’t be achieved with a phone or tablet. For these reasons try to reserve using mobile devices for social interactions or internal meetings.

We all have probably experienced trying to have meeting with someone on their mobile device. It’s a substandard experience.

In summary, these small considerations will make a massive impact and the impression you leave on the people you having zoom meetings with.