My team and I had a video call this week, and on the screen looking back at us was Felicia, a member of a sales team for a software product we’re considering.
Felicia was knowledgable, and she answered our questions and anticipated ones we didn’t know to ask. The product itself seems fine, if maybe not exactly what we need.
But here is what we remember about Felicia.
She conducted the call on her couch, which swallowed her up and put the web cam at a strange angle to her face. We could see her personal things scattered on the top of the couch.
She touched her face often, brushing hair out of her eyes and scratching her nose. In addition, she was a bit too close to the camera, giving us the feeling that we had stepped into her personal space.
Some tips to remember when you’re preparing for a business-related video call:
* It’s great to work from home, but it can feel too much like your home to the person calling in. Prep your space to reflect your professionalism.
* Check out the space behind you. Is there an open door that shows your bathroom? A throw on the couch that seems like you may have just emerged from underneath it? A lamp whose light dominates your screen?
* Test the ideal height for your screen. Propped on your lap is not a good height.
* Sit in a way that gives you some distance from your camera. We’d like to be able to see you from about the middle of your chest, or perhaps shoulders up.
* Try not to touch your face or hair.
Go forth and video chat!
