by Niamh Sweeney
Find out more at Workee blog
Because of the covid 19 pandemic, more companies than ever are making use of virtual conferences to avoid health risks — and this is not predicted to be temporary. In fact, according to a 2020 study carried out by McKinsey and Company, more than half of working respondents believe that the digital change is here to stay. The work from home revolution is also likely to suffice, because working online cuts companies and employees huge costs. Global Workplace Analytics found that the American company IBM alone cut costs of up to $50 million, and that employees save money on car fuel and food. As it is clear to see that remote work may dictate the future, today we want to discuss how you can maintain a professional demeanour through the computer and look good on video calls — whether you are externally employed or self-employed. We will be advising you with regard to the psychology of perception and presentation, timing, and expectations!
Presentation and how to position your laptop for video calls
Firstly, we recommend taking your physical appearance and presentation into account when preparing for a video call. While looks aren’t everything, they’re important — looks can sell. The first thing we learn about someone is their physical appearance, and their physical appearance tells us two things — how others perceive them or their lives, and how they feel about themselves.
For example, if you show up with freshly washed hair and a groomed appearance despite having two jobs and a family, this indicates that you can ‘handle everything’ or multi-task — which is a favourable organizational trait. Also, if you maintain a well-kept appearance, this implies that you value taking care of yourself — which some may admire. This point may come across as rather superficial, and it is unfortunate — however, humans are shallow animals by nature and value presentation. Various research also speaks volumes on this topic — a study on professional attire by Chan et al found that participants found a professional in suitable attire more suitable, capable, easier to talk to and friendlier.
Presentation obviously refers to looking your best and professional clothing (in relation to your field), but it also refers to practicalities. This includes having a clean/desirable background, 0 to no background noise if feasible, a clear video feed and adequate audio. We also recommend enhancing your presentation by having notes that you can glance at or reference if necessary — this will signify to the caller that you know what you’re talking about and radiate confidence.
Learn more about the best tips on how to look good on a video calls from Workee in our full article: https://workee.net/blog/how-to-look-good-on-a-video-calls
