The new conditions that we all found ourselves in April 2020 shifted many areas of business to remote work. In this situation, video communication has become almost the main tool for both business and personal communication.

Everyone is talking about the Zoom platform today: its attendance during the quarantine has increased 20 times. Other tools like Skype, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, etc., remain relevant. All tools for fast and accessible video communication are being used.

A home office is comfort, accessibility, and convenience. But there's a small catch. There's no all-knowing "sysadmin" here who can quickly adjust the sound, camera, update drivers, help install necessary programs, and ensure uninterrupted internet. Now you'll have to perform all this "magic" yourself.

We have prepared several tips for you on how to conduct a work meeting, conference, or other online meeting at the highest level – even while at home, in your favorite slippers!

Good "picture

To ensure you are clearly visible and nothing distracts attention, take care of good lighting. You can use natural light if it is directed straight at your face and diffused with a curtain. In a dark room, it's worth turning on an LED lamp, for example, a ring one, of which there is now a huge selection. Experiment with settings in advance to make the light as neutral as possible.

Secure the camera at eye level.so that you look natural on camera, without extra chin rolls. Try to look into the lens, not at the screen. This improves eye contact and encourages open communication.

Home office

What's behind?

Remember that not only your face will be captured by the camera. The entire background such as an untidy pile of laundry or a playing cat will be just as interesting to viewers as your presentation. Try to remove any distracting objects from view: bookshelves, paintings, photographs on the wall – anything that will be objects of scrutiny.

Some options on platforms can help with this. For example, in Skype and Teams, you can blur the background to focus attention only on your face. And in Zoom, you can even put any picture as your background. Even the company logo. By the way, here you can also "touch up" your appearance by evening out your skin tone. And if your company is liberal and creative enough, you can experiment with backgrounds for online meetings, thereby adding a touch of positivity to the gray weekdays.

Experiment with backgrounds for online meetings, adding a touch of positivity to gray everyday life.

Can you hear me?

Even a perfect picture won't make sense if you're not heard well. To avoid echo and interference, use headphones. Even better if you have a special microphone that clips to clothing. It's worth getting one if virtual communication is planned on a regular basis. And yes, the golden rule of a microphone is to turn it off in time.

Prepare the sleighs" in advance

Be sure to check and connect everything a day before the event starts. Log into the system, explore all options and settings to orient yourself in the interface. Check the sound, camera, and how the picture looks. Perhaps some software/drivers need updates or some adapter is missing. It's better to find out about this in advance and fix it without haste and stress.

Free communication channel

During the session, it's important to eliminate weak internet signal. If there are interferences, then turn off all automatic downloads, torrent clients, antivirus updates, child's tablet with game downloads, etc. This way you will achieve maximum clear image and sound.

And finally:

• Turn off your phone's sound;

• Prepare a presentation plan for yourself;

• Eliminate any need to leave your workstation during video calls;

• Record the meeting so that you can refer back to key points at any time and share it with those who were absent.

Need it be reminded that your appearance should match business attire? And this applies not only to the upper body. Have you seen those viral videos where a participant 'in a suit' stands up too early and ends up... in pajama pants, at best? Remember this and dress fully. 

Dress fully

And most importantly: ensure that no outsiders are in the frame.. Wife, mother, children, dog - they all should be in another room. To avoid situations like the one in the BBC news when during Robert Kelly's interview on South Korea issues, his children burst into the room.

Despite all the troubles, life goes on and the work process does too. Event agency "AV55.RU" will be happy to help your company with the organization of any event andAdventureis happy to help your company organize any event and online meetinga corporate event corporate partyThe new conditions that we all found ourselves in in April 2020 shifted many areas of business to remote work. In this situation, video communication has become almost the main tool for communication – both business and personal.…