Video Conferencing: The ABCs

While taking my son for a bike ride on Sunday, we stopped to say hello to a few people we encountered. Amidst the neighborly banter, we discovered that all four couples we spoke to worked remotely, either from home or shared workspaces. Somewhere between discussing the cold brew on-tap (shared workspaces) and the lack of janitorial services (home-based) we discussed their communication routines. It was video calls, video calls, and more video calls.

Video calls for weekly sales huddles. Video calls for marketing presentations. Video calls for customer success check-ins. And, of course, video calls with the boss.

Video calls were central to their success, and they all told stories of having to learn how to use this technology to be connected and engaging from a distance.

The 2017 US Census states 8 million employees work remotely. As businesses continue to learn about the advantages of having a remote workforce, that number will continue to grow.

As I heard my neighbors’ stories about the good, the bad, and the ugly of video conferencing, it made me realize that there are some foundational tools that help people connect to their audiences via video calls. We call them the A.B.C.’s of video calls.

Attire:
Just because you aren’t appearing in-person doesn’t mean you can appear in an old t-shirt. While every environment and audience is different, be purposeful in your wardrobe selection. Think about how you want to be perceived, and don’t be afraid to fall back on the sage advice of dressing for the position you want, not the position you have.

Background:
Make sure your background is professional and business-appropriate. To avoid appearing grainy be sure to set up in a well-lit area, but to avoid appearing like you’re in the witness protection program don’t sit in front of a sunny window--being backlit is bad.

Objects and scenery visible in your background also matter. Here you want a curated image that is uncluttered and professional. The last thing you want is for your audience to be distracted by a potpourri of personal artifacts or, worse yet, a pile of last week’s laundry.

Connect:
It would be odd in an in-person meeting to stare at the ceiling or out a window while talking to your audience. Eye contact enhances credibility, conveys attention, and broadcasts confidence. This is especially important in video conferences. To create the impression of eye contact look at the camera both when you are talking and when you are listening. If you need a reminder, put a small meaningful picture near the camera to serve as a focal point.

While the phrase, “Image is Everything” is hyperbole, the picture you paint of yourself through your video image matters. Taking time to thoughtfully prepare your video conference environment is essential to a successful remote meeting. Of course all the communication fundamentals we’ve talked about before, like being organized, telling stories, asking questions, referring to people by name, and clearly articulating your takeaways, still hold true.

As the business world continues to experiment with remote work, improving your video conference game is essential.