How To Look And Sound Great On A Conference Call

The coronavirus pandemic has suddenly made video conference calls a central part of our lives. Unfortunately, webcams have the uncanny ability to reveal us at our most vulnerable and least flattering. In the video above, we share some tips on how to look and sound your best on a video call.

Dress for the occasion

If you’re about to hop on a call for work, at the very least put on a work-appropriate shirt. Your coworkers don’t need to see that graphic tee with the ketchup stain from your lunch hot dog.

Find a quiet and well-lit room

Ideally, you’ll take calls in a quiet room with a nice big window. No one wants to hear your dishwasher running in the kitchen, or your roommate chopping vegetables. Remember not to sit in front of windows or light sources, and instead sit across from them. This way, you won’t be a silhouette on camera and your face will be properly lit.

Position your webcam

It might be tempting to put your laptop on your lap. But the only person that should be counting your nose hairs is you, so spare your coworkers that view and bring the webcam up to eye level.

Be aware of audio

Nothing is more annoying on a call than random background noise or a bad mic. To mitigate these issues, use headphones to avoid feedback, use an external microphone for clearer audio, and always mute yourself when you aren’t speaking.

Look, no one looks great on a conference call. But that’s no excuse for looking like you just rolled out of bed. Following the above tips will keep your work calls focused and professional, and your calls with family and friends tolerable and even enjoyable.