Build Your Executive Presence In Virtual Meetings

I am 5'3" tall and I swore off wearing heels almost ten years ago. I often meet clients on Zoom before I meet them in person. When I do finally meet them face-to-face I sometimes hear "I thought you were taller." Now, one could take this a lot of ways, but I choose to interpret it to mean that I successfully conveyed confidence and authority of my subject matter expertise. 

Your Online presence is vital to how you are perceived by others

The level of executive presence you bring to virtual meetings can convey nonverbal messages about your confidence and competence. Your online presence can either distract from your message or add to it. Here are three areas in which to upgrade your setup for virtual meetings. 

your frame

Your chest and head should be centered in the camera’s frame. To make this happen, measure a space roughly the size of your hand's width from the top of the screen to just above your head. This may sound obvious, but I have met with many clients whose chin is at the very bottom of their frame. Then, their background takes up most of the frame. I have even seen people's written names actually blocking part of their face. Neither of these presents a professional setup.

From there, position yourself so that your shoulders are square to the camera. If you use two monitors, your camera should be positioned above the screen where your colleagues are. If not, to your colleagues it can appear as though you're looking away, thus missing a chance to convey that you are "with them."

Everything in your frame should be well lit, especially your face. You don't need a ring light, but you need a light source (or multiple sources) that illuminates your face relatively evenly. The best way to do this is to face a window (just be sure it’s not too bright or harsh) or have a soft light facing you, behind your computer Similarly, if the room behind you is dark, that may set a mood or send a message you don't intend to send.

your background

I'm not a fan of virtual backgrounds because I find the way the background adjusts around someone's hair distracting. Blurring the background is a slightly better option, and can make the person "pop," but there's still an element of realness missing. If at all possible, aim to show the real background in your space. This conveys authenticity in the most powerful way. If you don't want to show your personal belongings or space, position your desk so that your back is against a wall or corner, facing out. That way, your background will only show a small bit of wall. Hang a simple piece of art, and maybe a plant, and you're all set.

Your audio

The quality of your audio really matters, especially if you care about being heard. Some laptops have a good-enough built-in microphone, but the best audio comes with a headset or desktop mic (like radio announcers). Anything echoey or muffled is going to be .... you guessed it.....a distraction. The same can be said for calling in on your cell phone - it's going to sound more muffled than audio through your computer, assuming you have a good internet connection. If you have a very high fidelity headset, just make sure the microphone isn't picking up your breath when you speak. That can also be distracting! Moving it a bit lower than your mouth can fix that. Record yourself with various audio options and choose the best. 

Optimizing your video frame, the visuals in your background, and your audio quality enables you to connect and communicate well. This is your online "executive presence," and it will influence how  you are perceived in your area of expertise. The quality of your presence will convey a message about the quality of your work. It matters!