Maybe you’re one of those people who cringes when they hear the phrase, “video call.” Or, maybe you’re already good and just want to know the best tips for video calls.
Whatever the reason…
You may be facing one of the 3 Deadly A’s:
- Anxiety. You frequently feel anxious before a video call.
- Awkwardness. You’re afraid of feeling awkward and running out of things to say.
- Apathy. You’ve never felt fantastic after making video calls.
If you fall victim to one of these symptoms, don’t worry!
Video calls are much easier than you think!
And I promise you this: it’s worth taking the time to know exactly how to ace your video conferences.
So, you may be asking…
Why Should I Be Using Video Calls?
Video calls are inevitable—these days we are spending more and more time on video calls! In fact, a 2019 study by Lifesize showed that:
- 48% of business professionals are using more video calls than they did 2 years ago.
- 25% of 19- to 29-year olds are using videoconferencing daily for work.
And Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins even said that customers spent a staggering 5.5 billion minutes in virtual meetings in the first 11 business days of March this year! That’s a TON of virtual screen time.
There’s no doubt that video calls are only going to get more popular.
So if you are working remotely you should be using video calls for:
- Meetings
- One-on-Ones
- Team check-Ins
Here’s the problem: people tell me all the time that they think they look horrible on video, that video calls are too much work, or that video calls are too awkward—so they opt for a phone call.
Whenever possible, you should ALWAYS opt for a video call.
Why?
- You connect better—a 2017 Forbes Insights study found that 62% of executives agreed that video calls significantly improved the quality of communication over phone calls.
- You can read body language.
- You have deeper, more productive conversations (and fewer awkward silences than conference calls).
So how do you make sure you look great, sound great, and get your message across?
Here are the exact steps you need to conquer your video calls the next time you get on camera!
Get Gear
First up is essential—you need the right gear! You do not need a professional set-up to have a great video call, but some basic gear helps.
- Webcam: Using your laptop or computer’s built-in webcam is totally fine… but if you can, get an external webcam like a Logitech to create the perfect angle and image quality.
- Headphones: Try to always wear headphones. If you use the built-in speakers and microphone it can create some nasty feedback on the call.
- Microphone: If you are really doing a lot of video calls, I really like my Yeti Microphone or a Snowball microphone.
- Software: I like using a software like Zoom. It is so easy to use… And the best part? It adds a filter which softens you up and makes you look 10 years younger (turn it on in your settings)!
- Internet: If you can get a faster connection at home, do it! It’s worth it! But also turn off your other applications or backups on your computer so you have a faster connection. Oh, and try to make sure your roommates aren’t watching Netflix or something.
