10 Ways to Improve Your Video/Skype Conference Call
Prepare for a video conference as you would for an in-person meeting. This means that you
should avoid inappropriate attire and neglect your grooming and personal hygiene. Look at dressing
colours that suit your complexion and maturity. Perhaps do a test video and ask your significant other
to provide feedback.
Much like your own personal appearance which should be polished and professional, the
place where you’re meeting from should also mirror that look. Choose a place that looks clean
and neat, and free from interruptions. Take away all the extra stuff and have the camera perspective have a view of yourself, desk
and surrounding area without any clutter.
So there are no excuses for showing up late to the video conference. Since you will be
appearing on video, avoid looking rushed or flustered, and project a cool, calm and collected
image.Making it a point to sit in front of your computer at least 10 minutes ahead of the video
conference usually helps. Then, you can look over the final preparations for the meeting,
A good idea is to sit in a chair that forces you to sit erect and attentive. Your body language
can communicate how interested you are in the meeting. We all have desk chairs which we
rock or sway back and forth. Short answer DONT
#5 Avoid Inappropriate body language
Your body language is a powerful tool to communicate to the audience Watch other videos
and critique their body language and do a test with a friend using Super Tin Tin or Google Hangout
Here is some examples and you can interpret the rest of the column.
Doing This: Might Mean This:
Clenched jaw Anger, stress
Eyebrows raised Surprise, curiositsy
Fidgety movements Nervousness
Clenched fists
Fixed smile
Head tilted
Hands open, palms out
Narrowed eyes
Pursed lips
Slumping posture
Wringing hands
Add more .....
Mind your manners at all times while on camera; e.g., don't eat or chew gum, eating lunch,
during your video conference. Also try to avoid yawning, crossing your arms, looking from side
to side or rocking your chair
Avoid the use of profanity.
Remember that you are on video and even if you aren’t one of the main speakers in the meeting,
people could be paying attention to you. It helps to think that since you are on camera, people are
watching, so you should avoid any embarrassing behavior at all costs.
It’s very tempting to tune out and work on something else when a topic that seems irrelevant
to you is being discussed. Remember that not only can people hear you typing, but on a video
conference they can also see it. So avoid appearing inconsiderate and impolite, and pay
attention to the video conference at all times while it’s going on. Keep in mind that you never
know when you’ll be asked for your input, so it’s best to just stay focused on the meeting at all
times to avoid being caught doing something else
The amount of lighting can directly impact the quality of the video conference. Many times people
have their cameras pointed at a window with the drapes wide open This produces a wash out of
of the video and whitebalancing isn't possible.
Example One A window on the left as an example of excessive light that could impact your video conference call
Example Two of overhead lighting distraction or overly bright glare
To do List
A microphone on your laptop, a lavalier or a hand held dynamic microphone can greatly impact the sound quality.
Also the conditions of the room can impact the recording, ie. street noise, dogs barking, radio, computer fan
telephone ringing.
A cheap microphone produces horrible results.
To do List
Examples of good microphones
Samson C01 Studio Condenser Mic
http://www.thepodcasthost.com/blog/the-best-podcasting-microphones-on-the-market/
Another major flaw is the use of a substandard video camera and the settings set at low to produce the lowest video quality
The position of the camera can also impact the results
To do List
Examples of good cameras
http://shop.skype.com/intl/en-ca/webcams/
Logitech Camera Model
End Note
Author: Glenn McKnight