How To Create A Professional Video Call Setup

Your blurred background isn't just hiding your living room — It's hiding your leadership potential: How you appear on video calls significantly impacts your career trajectory—often unconsciously. But 3 simple changes that transform your virtual leadership presence: 1. Curate an Authentic Background - Create a simple, professional space with personality - Ensure good lighting (natural is best) - Include one conversation-starter item - Keep it uncluttered but not sterile 2. Position Yourself for Trust - Frame yourself to show head and upper torso - Place camera at eye level - Keep hands visible when gesturing - Begin with an open palm wave 3. Practice Genuine Presence - Make deliberate eye contact with the camera - Use natural hand gestures when speaking - Listen carefully to create connection - Address technical issues openly Leaders who implement these practices report: ✅ Improved meeting outcomes ✅ Enhanced relationship quality ✅ Reduced meeting-related anxiety In leadership, perception creates reality. Your video presence isn't just technical— It's a crucial component of your professional brand. What one change will you make to your virtual setup this week? Repost this to help other leaders elevate their virtual presence ♻️ To read more about how your conduct in virtual meetings can create your leadership perception, subscribe to my newsletter : read.drdegnan.com

I've sold many millions of dollars of services and raised millions of funding on Zoom the last 4 years. Here's how to win at Zoom meetings: - show up 1 minute or more early so you're not the one fumbling around joining after the start time. you're ready to go and in the power position while everyone else is apologizing and turning on their mics and stuff. - position yourself so your head is slightly larger and slightly higher on the screen than the other attendee/s. same psychological impact / power signal of sitting at the big desk with a slightly taller chair while your guest is in the smaller chair in front. - don't use blurred background or virtual backgrounds- they both make you seem less trustworthy- like you might be hiding something - do use a virtual notetaker that records/transcribes the meeting and summarizes it for you so you can be fully present and not worry about taking notes - use an HD camera when possible, and center it on your screen so you can make better "eye contact" with the other attendee/s. humans trust good eye contact, and looking side-eye because of camera position sends a deep "don't trust this person" signal. - create an attractive environment and lighting. Never have a window behind you. Have an attractive/clean background and good warm lighting on your face. - use a quality mic- try to never use your laptop mic. My preference is a podcast-style desk mic aimed right at your mouth just out of the camera shot. If that's not possible due to traveling etc, I will use AirPods Pro or some good headset. - confirm at the beginning of meeting how long you have before you have to stop, and make sure your guest confirms back their time constraints, then ALWAYS stop or at least offer to stop before the time they told you they had to stop. Never violate or disrespect someone's time. If you go long- make sure it's only ever because THEY ASKED you to go longer. - state your exact goal/s for the meeting in the beginning of call and make sure there's agreement, and then recap at the end of call and confirm you achieved the stated goals together. - follow up with an e-mail summary immediately after, with the agreed-upon next steps clearly outlined for quick reference later Anything you'd add to this list?

Presentation matters I was talking with our CEO Aditya Kothadiya last week about what standards we should have for video meetings. Some people say why stress the details. Does it really matter if your lighting is terrible or sound sucks on Zoom? They will say your image doesn't matter and why sweat the small stuff. I totally disagree. The image that you have (including sound) is fundamental to creating a great customer experience. Yes, we don’t all have a professional studio to work out of. But, there are key things we can do to improve the quality of our video meetings. Here are some simple pointers to help you take your video meetings up a notch: 1️⃣ Camera and framing! Most built-in cameras on a laptop are terrible. Invest in a decent webcam or better yet DSLR. Not everyone will have a budget for high end equipment but there are webcams that are very cheap and will take your quality up many notches. Also, did you know that if you are an iPhone user you can connect your phone to zoom and use that as a camera? The quality is amazing and very easy to setup! For framing Keep the camera at eye level or slightly above to avoid unflattering angles and leave some space between the top of your head and the edge of the frame (rule of thirds) 2️⃣ Lighting. Again no need to have big studio lights in your house but keep these simple things in mind: - Face a window for soft, natural light. Avoid backlighting where the light source is behind you. - If you are using any external lights make sure to place lights at a 45-degree angle in front of you to avoid harsh shadows. - Avoid overhead lights cast shadows that make you look tired or uneven. 3️⃣ Audio, audio and audio!!!! Audio is more important than video! Some simple tips to follow: - A good mic like Blue Yeti, Shure MV7, or Rode NT-USB improves clarity.  - Avoid relying on your laptop’s built-in microphone.   - Do a soundcheck so you are confident in your setup and can make any corrections.  - Use noise-cancellation tools like Krisp AI or Zoom’s built-in noise suppression 4️⃣ Background and setup. Find a minimalistic location for your background. But remember to keep things personal! Nobody wants to see you in a sterile environment, so sprinkle the background with things that show your personality. - Avoid clutter, bright colors, or heavy patterns. - Find a location that has minimal background traffic to avoid distractions. - Declutter your desk. Keep only the essentials (e.g., notes, water bottle, or keyboard) visible Your setup may not be perfect and that’s fine. But, pay attention to the details, constantly try to create the absolute best experience you can, and remember to make your setup personal with your own unique style! Never settle and strive for perfection. Hope this is helpful and let me know questions in the comments 👇