In a virtual session, your body language can provide just as much insight as to the conversation. How you physically interact with others will show your preferences and what you’re comfortable with. It can help you build rapport or demonstrate that you’re not quite ready for the conversation to continue at this level just yet. It can also help you create a solid first impression with someone you’ve never met before.
Technology has made performance evaluation accessible to a broader audience. With that being said, buyers are becoming more aware of the nuances of a virtual performance review. How do you know if a candidate’s sitting posture is an indicator of their interest in the position? Or what about if they fidget — is this a sign of anxiety, or are they simply restless?
Whether you’re a video conferencing pro or new to the game, it’s important to remember that body language is just as important in virtual sessions as it is in physical meetings. Visual cues are a powerful way to connect with your remote audience and help establish trust, confidence, and credibility.
Although they’re becoming increasingly popular, virtual sessions can be tricky when it comes to making sure the connection is strong enough.
Here are 5 tips on ensuring you don’t lose out on leads or clients because of a poor connection.
- Posture is Essential during a Virtual Session:
Whether you’re in a virtual session or on-site, it’s crucial to maintain the proper posture. The position you choose can make all the difference in how you feel and how others perceive you. Whether you’re interviewing for a new job, meeting an investor, or presenting a seminar, your body language can affect the overall impression you leave behind.
- Avoid touching the Face (and Hair)
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is edging ever closer to mainstream adoption. This technology is fun and exciting, but the fact remains: you need to be careful when using it. Touching your face and hair suggests that you are nervous. You want to avoid these when attending a virtual meeting as you don’t want to come across as insecure or nervous!
In a virtual session, your nonverbal signals are just as important as your verbal ones. When you’re presenting to clients or collaborating with team members from all over the world, it’s essential to make sure you’re communicating effectively and that you’re not unknowingly giving off any mixed messages.
Virtual meetings are the future. Virtual reality meeting rooms will increasingly replace physical meeting rooms and offices as technology advances. Being aware of your body language and those on the call is a critical skill to master.
- Sit back from the Camera so colleagues can see your gestures
A gesture is a great way to enhance your conversations during video calls. Conference calls are a staple of business these days. They are instrumental when you have had to assemble a team at short notice or when you have a shortage of time to meet your colleagues face-to-face. However, most of us aren’t used to being on camera. The best way to make sure that you effectively communicate during a conference call is to sit back from the camera, so your clients can see gestures and movements while talking with you.
- Make Eye contact by looking into the Camera during the Video Call
While video calls have become the new norm, not everyone is comfortable with them. As more and more entrepreneurs rely on video calls to conduct meetings, secure sales and communicate with clients, this can be a severe issue.
Making eye contact during a video call makes the conversation more personal and helps make the other person feel more connected. Making eye contact in a video call can be challenging because it is harder to do than making eye contact when you are face-to-face with someone. However, it is vital to do so because it helps create a more personal connection with your conversational partner.
- Show Engagement by refraining from looking down
You can do a simple thing to show others that you’re engaged in a conversation or activity to refrain from looking down. When we look down, it makes us appear disinterested and subtly decreases other people’s trust in us. Next time you’re in a conversation with someone, try keeping your head up and looking at them most of the time. Looking down throughout the conversation can ruin the overall impression you want to leave.
With more and more people using video conferencing for meetings, the quality of your visual communication is becoming increasingly important. Your body language can significantly affect how you’re perceived and how well you communicate and work with others.
Disclaimer:
The information presented on the VET Resources blog is for general guidance only. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee the completeness or timeliness of the information. VET Resources is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Always consult a professional for advice tailored to your circumstances.
