Video conferencing is now an accepted part of business, and there’s no doubt that its simplicity and versatility have made it an asset for many organisations. Despite it being so common now, many people are still only getting used to the idea of video conferencing in a few ways, and body language is definitely one of them. This is because video conferencing involves and requires a different Approach to conversations that occur in person due to the focus often being exclusively on your face, and not taking this into consideration can make you look a lot more awkward than you might think. No need to fret, though – in this article, we take a look at a few ways you can look much more natural during your next video conferencing call.
Good posture is important
Although a good AV company in Sydney is sure to set you up with all the equipment necessary to pull off seamless and high quality video conferencing, that doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a perfect video call every time. This is because your own presentation goes a long way to help engage your audience, whether it be an entire virtual audience or just single person. Considering your own body psychology can greatly affect the way people perceive you, so keeping in mind some key points can help you look far more natural than you actually look. The best place to start is simply by exercising good posture. It’s all too easy to slump down into your chair when you’re in the middle of a video conference call – especially if you’re at home – and if you don’t realise you’re doing it you can come across as being very unprofessional. By sitting up straight you’ll look enthusiastic and present in the moment, rather than looking bored and lethargic – even if this isn’t actually how you’re feeling.
Smile for the camera
Just as it’s easy to forget about your posture on a video conference call, it’s also easy to forget to smile. Smiling shows that you’re engaged and enjoying the presentation, and it also demonstrates a warmth that others involved will appreciate. Just as you should remember to not look like you’re bored, you should also ensure that you don’t spend the entire meeting touching your face. Although these are habits that a lot of people have, when your face is the focus you should try your best to avoid spending an hour rubbing and touching your face, scratching your nose and biting your lip. Over the course of a video conference it is at the very least distracting, and can even make you look insecure to a degree. If you want to demonstrate that you’re listening, it’s best to nod your head every now and then.
Be a confident speaker
Just because your face is the focus, doesn’t mean you cant use your hands – using your hands to emphasise certain points when you’re speaking can lend you much more authority and help what you’re saying to your audience seem even more legitimate. This is because having confidence in yourself – even if it is just on the surface – can help other people have more confidence in you. if you’re not a naturally confident person, practicing talking with your hands more can help.
