Business on Zoom, Skype and Teams

Business on zoom, skype and teams can be quite nerve wracking and make a lot of people quite monotone, as they shut down any natural expression.

The fear and self-consciousness can be excruciating so here are some tips to make lockdown working from home more pleasant!

 

1. Video Record Yourself on Skype.

Video call a friend on Skype. In the bottom left hand corner there is a red button or round circle labeled ‘Record’.

Click and then your video call will be recorded – for both of you.

When you end the call on Skype, the film of you both, will automatically drop into both of your chat feeds. Don’t worry if it doesn’t appear immediately – sometimes it takes a few minutes.

Now when you watch the play-back, don’t worry about anything you don’t like – this is your opportunity to change!

When you watch yourself back on screen, it’s easier than in a mirror, to be objective.

 

2. Become your own director and producer.

Analyse how you come over regarding your image, your voice, your concentration, your body language.

How much eye contact do you maintain?

Do you make distracting movements or sounds?

Do you move papers near the microphone.

Is there shadow on your face?

Could you smile a bit more? Doesn’t have to be a cheesy grin – a discreet Mona Lisa one will do!

 

 3. Backdrops & Set Dressing.

Don’t underestimate set dressing. There’s a reason state rooms of most countries are full of red and gold and filled with grand objects conveying power.

How do you want you to come accross?

As the pundit on the news infront of bookshelves?

A bland, greyish white wall behind you does no one any favours. This is your chance to enrich your image – and without saying a word.

Does the wall behind you look  bare and unfriendly?

Flowers make you look friendly, positive and surprisingly professional.

 

4. Wardrobe

There’s a reason why famous people / actors / the Queen / Duchess of Cambridge / etc have stylists or wardrobe personel – it’s a seriously important job.

Did you know Henry 8th had lists of what different social groups or classes could or could not wear?

Clothes give a lot of messages – and since you really only have to invest in your top half for Covid, enjoy the opportunity of learning what colours and neckline shapes flatter your complexion and chin line, well on camera and don’t use those that don’t.

Doing business on Zoom, Skype and Teams – you are not in 3-D as in person: remember you are a collection of shapes and colours on the screen – use this to your advantage.

Also, experiment with colour.

Do grey or black, really suit you? Do they make you look lively and charismatic?

If you look like George Cluny with dark eyes & silver hair – then yes may be black does suit you.

If you wear loads of make up and bright lipstick – then yes – maybe black may suit you.

But for most people it’s draining and drab.

Notice how on Rememberance Day – 11th Nov’20,  Prince Charles wore a navy suit – as this conveys stability and a sense of quiet, self-confidence and so internal power.

David Cameron also did this on the service day – this last Sunday the 8th – and it looked completely inappropriate because everybody else was observing the black and red protocol – including the Queen – who never normally wears black. She always uses colour/s.

So check: does the colour of that top really suit you?

Does the colour make you look positive, uplifting, confident or boring?

Does the neckline suit you?.

Does that low neckline look flattering or like you’re in love with your boss?

Do your teeth need bleaching?

Does you hair need taming? dying? brushing? tying back?

 

5. Framing

The quality of the images and the size of the framing of your image (you and your background) differs with each one of these platforms.  I love Skype because the image is softer (less sharp so less harsh) and so kinder to middle aged skin! The zoom image is a little more in focus and if you want high definition you’re talking FaceTime.

When you work on camera – your framing or what’s in the frame – is massively important – i.e. what is within the area of which your camera lens picks up and broadcasts or is visible to your workmates / boss / audience.

In television and film – the edges of the entire image are paramount, as the framing of the picture tells a story: in your case what is important to you and the way you live and your values.

Whatever is in the frame tells your audience a story about you  – gives a thousand messages – and anything outside of the frame – whether it’s a dirty plate,  or a pile of washing, it just doesn’t matter – because no one sees – but in the frame? That’s everything!

The framing of you and your background is different for Zoom, Skype & Teams, so you must check this.

Once you have checked this,  you can ‘dress your set’ or create your ‘back drop image’ accordingly – think of it as a picture – and what you want to convey.

You don’t want to suddenly see a pair pink spotted boxers or knickers on the very end of the radiator behind you!

Personal objects are fine – they show you are a rounded human being – just be conscious of the messages they give.

 

6. Light Source & Lighting

Lighting is everything.

A candle under your face in a dark room will make you look like you belong in a horror film.

An over head light will make you look tired and 10 years older

Lots of light in front of you and a white surface underneath your face – will make you look fabulous.

Play with light and use it to your advantage.

Make sure you have a window behind your lap top and two table lamps behind and to the side of your laptop for dark days.

Never have a window behind you unless you are facing huge floor to ceiling French bay windows i.e. huge amounts of light. Since this is fairly unlikely – just don’t!

If you look your best on camera – you will feel good – and if you feel good on camera – you will perform well.

A strong light source in front of you is flattering and makes you look energetic and intelligent.

 

7. Camera Level

Where the camera lens is, in relation to your face, is very important.

If you’re looking down, you may have a double chin, a fat face, look older by 20 years and generally feel terrible about the way you look. Don’t.

At the very least, have the camera at the same height as your eyes.

iI you would like a more youthful appearance have the camera a little higher. This is a trick portrait photographers use, as it forces your eyes to open up a little more and you will look younger.

I know you will be looking at the screen not the camera lens but as the lens tends to be at the top of a screen – this is a good guideline.

Make sure you have a couple of spare books handy, to put under the lap top so that you can get the height of the camera and so the screen, just right.

 

8. Voice Projection and Tone

If  the camera in your lap top is eye level or a little higher, your voice will sound brighter. This is for various reasons that I’m not going to go into here but suffice to say

if your face is slumped downwards ,your voice will have a flat tone because your facial muscles will be compressed, and the breath pipe i.e. your throat will also be bent.

If you are looking straight ahead of you or a centimetre or so up, this will help to make your voice sound brighter but listen to your neck, if you are looking up too high you will create neck pain because you will be compressing your upper spine into your skull – so listen to your body!

 

So now…

9. Lights, camera, action!

Call your friend/s and video yourselves. I’m sure you have friends who could benefit from this exercise too.

Enjoy watching yourself back on screen and start to enjoy playing with your image, backdrop and presentation 🙂

Make this fun for yourself and I promise you will come over as memorable and professional – and possible brighten everyone else’s day!

Good Luck 🙂

 

Here is another article you may enjoy: Elocution and Public Speaking