Michelle Hanchey No Comments

Look Professional On-Line

LOOK PROFESSIONAL ON-LINE

In today’s virtual world it is important to look like a professional and less like an amateur, no matter what field of work you are in.  Your appearance matters in person and even more so during an on-line meeting.  On-line people are  limited in the number of ways they get to know and trust you.

Plus, you don’t want your boss to think that you are a sloth too lazy to get out of you PJ’s all day.  Go on a virtual meeting in a Hawaii shirt with a bedhead and you will be judged. That fleeting and uninformed impression will have your competence called into question.

It pays to strategize about how to look professional during your online meetings.  Just a bit of effort can lead to dramatically improved results.

  • Look at The Camera When Talking: In the virtual world looking someone in the eye means looking into your camera. While this takes some practice, seasoned professionals who do a lot of web conference calls make it a point to look at their webcam when speaking or listening to a specific person on the call rather than looking at the speaker’s video image.   While looking at someone’s image is perfectly natural (we do it in person), looking at your camera gives the impression that you’re looking directly at the person who is watching you.  This creates a stronger connection and builds confidence in your abilities.   Just make sure that your camera is at eye-level and we are not looking up your nostrils.
  • Posture: Sit up straight, slightly forward, shoulders square to your camera and you will look in control and attentive. Positive body language will help those in your virtual meeting feel much more comfortable and positive about you.  Dress professionally from the waist up.  It will give you an extra boost of confidence and enhance your professional image.
  •  Dress for Success: One of the magical things about working remotely is the freedom to wear anything to work. It’s the dream. However, when you are in a virtual meeting your coworkers will be less than thrilled to see your wrinkled clothes and unkept hair.   Dress professionally at least from the waist up.  It will give you an extra boost of confidence and enhance your professional image.

DO

  1. Wear a collar but don’t wear a low cut top or sleeveless shirt.
  2. Avoid busy, repeating patterns or material with a sheen
  3. Stick to solid colors that work with your skin tone.
  4. Avoid reflective jewelry and jewelry with a jangle.
  5. Leave the hats and caps off because they are too casual.
  • Mens Hair:  A good cut covers the top halves of your ears. No comb-overs please.   Make sure no stray hairs are sticking up.  Keep beards and mustaches well-trimmed and off the lips.  If bald check your camera for shine.  A little clear powder will make a difference.
  • Ladies Hair: Ladies, your hair acts like a good frame.  It should flatter your face without drawing undue attention.  Allow ¾-inch clearance from having hair around the eyes to avoid unwanted shadows.   Also, a little volume is always good.  If you color your hair, make sure it’s not a solid blob of color.
  • Makeup: Ladies to come across best on camera, your makeup should be an understatement and your foundation should match your skin tone.  Blend your makeup to avoid foundation lines.  Choose a soft, natural  eye shadow and blend it well.  Select a lipstick shade that is similar to the color of the inside of your mouth.  Don’t use gloss,  bronzer or any make-up that has a shimmer effect.
  • Glasses: Your glasses can create a distracting reflection from your computer screen.  If possible, skip wearing the glasses.

Now that you are looking posh and professional for your next virtual meeting take a look at your virtual office and make sure it looks as good as you do.  Go to: http://www.hanchey.com/virtual-office-look-like-pro/

 

Michelle Hanchey No Comments

Virtual Office – “Look Like A Pro”

Professional Virtual Office

 

VIRTUAL OFFICE – “LOOK LIKE A PRO”

We’ve all gone virtual.  Which means now is the opportune time to give a hard look at how you present yourself on-line.  To build trust and rapport more quickly, it pays to strategize about how to look professional during your online meetings.  Start by giving thought to your virtual office.

  • A Professional Remote Office: Like spinach in your teeth or your zipper undone, a bad video-call is something only your best friend will call to your attention.  Even if you have the best virtual presentation ever — there is a good chance that your lighting, your backdrop, your connection or even your unconscious habits are making you look less professional than you would like.
  • Choose your setting: Create a professional setting with a quiet calm office.  Carpet with soft furnishings tend to create the best audio during virtual meetings. If your room doesn’t have carpeting, an area rug on the floor and some floor pillows can reduce reverberation and create a warmer sound.
  • Background: We don’t want to see your dirty laundry piled on top of your unmade bed.  In fact, we don’t want to see your bed at all.  It is distracting.  Any distraction can take away from your message, be it a wall of posters, kitchen cabinets or nick-knacks.  A tidy bookcase in the background offers a professional touch.  However, the safest approach is to simply have a neutral wall color in the background. Shades of grey or cream work well vs. white. *Many of today’s virtual meeting rooms (i.e. Zoom) give you the option of adding a background, but be careful that it is neutral and professional.  Practice with the background before you use it.
  • Know Your Platform: Understand how your online video conferencing service works, i.e. Zoom or GoToWebinar, etc.  Tech challenged? Then study-up  so you appear professional  when you switch from  your image to your screen image.  Understand how chat, surveys, comments as well as other  functions work so that you appear smooth and professional.
  • Use laptop, not phone or I-pad: While in your virtual office use your laptop or desktop computer.  Smartphones tend to be very convenient, but they can be hard to balance. Plus, there is limited ability to see all meeting members on the screen space. Even your I-pad has limitations on being able to see all meeting members on screen.
  • Raise you webcam to eye-level: Put your phone/I-pad/computer on your desk and we get a clear look up your nostrils.  Do put your computer on a sturdy stack of books or a box. Adjust it so your eyes are eye-level to your camera.  For a clear picture use a USB camera (under $100) and position it at eye level.
  • Adjust your framing: Position yourself about arm’s length from your screen.  Too close, you look like a cartoon character.  Too far, you look little and lost.  Make sure you have a bit of space between the top of your hair and the top of the screen.
  • Audio: Good sound is critical.  Distance yourself from any background noise.  But if you can’t escape the brouhaha plug in your headphones with a built in microphone.  It will help your voice cut through the noise more clearly.  Best to have a quite spot and use a USB microphone ($100-$150).
  • Good Lighting: Lighting is one of the most critical aspects of creating a professional remote office.  Ensure your desk has a strong but soft light that can illuminate your face during your virtual meetings. (Tip: purchase an inexpensive  10” LED ring light with tripod for under $25). Bright and balanced is best.  Not sure about your lighting … ask a friend to critique before you go live.  Typical lighting mistakes include:
    • An overhead light gives you a halo and produces raccoon eyes that also make you look tired.
    • Lights located anywhere behind within view of the camera is like shining a flashlight in someone’s eyes
    • Experiment with your lighting so that you don’t look like a lurking shadow with no eyes or half your face is covered in shadows.

Michelle ‘hard-hat’ Hanchey founded Hanchey.com out of a passion to help you improve the quality of your public speaking, executive presentations and leadership skills, Michelle “hard hat” Hanchey is the first to ask, “What’s in your toolbox? And how can I help?”