Navigating Social Distancing: How to Meet via Video Successfully

All of us are juggling a change in routine, school closures, working from home and general insecurity surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. It may seem petty – and certainly a first world problem – to talk about how to better video conference with your employees or clients. But, we always encourage leaders to take the lead on creating effective communications strategies – and your viewers will appreciate it, too!

Following these five tips will set you up for successful video meetings:

• Use good lighting. Avoid setting up against a window. You will become a silhouette. Instead, turn around, and let the natural light illuminate you! Whenever possible, use natural light to your advantage. If you’re not near a window, make sure you are well lit (and not from the top down). No one wants to appear as if you’re being interrogated. If you have overhead lighting, that’s great, just add in another room light which will help balance the light and let it bounce around. In a pinch, I’ve even lifted the shade of a table lamp to let more light on my face.
• Check your webcam settings. Make sure your FPS (frames per second) is set to at least 24, with 30 or 60 FPS being most ideal. Your video will be less choppy and, as a result, your video and sound will align.
• Watch the angle. Adjust the camera height so it’s coming straight at eye level or slightly above. This may mean that you need to put a few books under your laptop or find a different surface in your home. The resulting position will be much more flattering, and who among us doesn’t want to lose the couple of pounds that the camera adds?
• Use headphones. This will help with the direction of your voice and eliminate feedback, and you will be easier to understand.
• Mute yourself. If you have a break in talking and there isn’t a lot of back in forth, hit the mute button.

While remote working is generally quite casual and these days we’re all forgiving of the chaos that’s happening in our lives and homes, it’s still important to keep in mind that your professional image is on the line. Opt to leave your suit jacket in the closet, but these easy tips will make your video conference as professional as in the boardroom.

The information in this article is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation around COVID-19 continues to evolve, it is possible that some data have changed since publication and some recommendations may not be applicable or appropriate to implement for your organization at this time. While we endeavor to keep our insights as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations from their own communities by using the CDC and WHO as resources.

Our Crisis Communications Team is also available 24/7 and rapidly responding to various issues related to the COVID-19 outbreak. If your organization requires immediate assistance, please contact Poston Communications CEO Dave Poston at (678) 358-5876 or Vice President Megan Paquin at (407) 432-7066.