Raise your hand if you hate Zoom calls. Now raise your hand if you hate them because they make you feel anxious.
“Few events can make us as nervous as video calls if we aren’t used to them. I’m a professional speaker who routinely speaks to hundreds, even thousands of people. And when I first started doing video calls they got to me, particularly video conference calls,” says consultant, author and speaker Barry Maher. “The second you start to speak, everyone is focused on you in a way that seems more intense, more focused – it’s like being on stage.”
As success coach, speaker and leadership consultant Kristie Stocker puts it, in the last three years, a “big chunk of the population suddenly found itself shrinking in front of the big, bad webcam.” According to the feedback she’s heard from clients, people have various reasons for dreading video calls: feeling “singled out,” hating that their coworkers get to see their home environment, disliking the impersonal and uncomfortable aspect of talking to a computer camera, or finding the lighting unflattering.
It doesn’t have to be all that terrible though. Here are six tips to be confident on video calls (and maybe even start enjoying them).
1. Preparation is key
Winging it is not a good idea. Both Stocker and Maher agree: Make sure your tech setup is ready. Turn your camera on to make sure the background is presentable. Adjust the frame, lighting and frame of your camera.
“The worst is when people are still messing with their equipment when they jump on the call. Not only are you not focused when the call starts, but it also doesn’t offer a great impression and you appear unprepared,” says Stocker. The opposite is also true. A few minutes of preparation can go a long way in terms of feeling – and appearing – confident.
You’ll also want to prepare what you’re going to talk about. “Create notes on what you want to say. Go over them as much as necessary to become confident with the material,” recommends Maher. “I make them easy to read and place them on the computer keyboard. No one else can see them, but you’re more likely to get in the points you need to make and less likely to be at a loss.”
2. Wear something that you feel good in
Wear that power blazer or rock the blouse that makes you feel like a million bucks – it will instantly boost your self-assuredness.
“We’re most confident when we feel we look good. Wear something comfortable that you feel confident in. Whether that’s a suit and tie, nice blouses, real leather jackets or a simple polo shirt— whatever is appropriate for the call,” suggests Stocker. “Wear the earrings, or don’t. Wear that watch or skip it. Makeup or not.” It’s not about a specific look but choosing pieces that make you feel good.
It may be tempting to keep your sweatpants on. It’s just your team, after all. But putting that extra effort into your appearance can have a significant impact on your confidence.
“Even if you’re just collaborating with people who’ve known you for decades, you will exude more confidence when you look your best. You could even reserve your favorite color to wear just for video calls. Talk about personal branding!” adds Stocker.
3. Adopt a growth mindset
Once you’re ready to go live, don’t get discouraged if you still feel insecure or end up fumbling. The key to becoming a confident virtual communicator is adopting a growth mindset and seeing each video call as an opportunity to get more comfortable and improve your skills.
“It’s all a learning experience. The best way to get better at doing video calls is to do more video calls,” says Maher. Plus, if it makes you feel better, remember that you’re not alone in struggling with feeling confident during virtual meetings. “Realize that virtually everyone else has at some point had the same anxiety about video calls that you have. Like many people already have, you can and will get better at it,” he adds.
4. Look into the camera
While on any video call, you’ll want to get used to looking into the camera while speaking, even if it’s a little awkward.
“It can be a tough habit to get into, but the more you look directly into the camera, not down at the screen, the more you connect with your audience. The more they feel connected with you, the more they know, like and trust you,” says Stocker. “This gives the audience an utmost feeling of connection and confidence from you even if you feel awkward talking to a tiny webcam lens.”
5. Smile and keep going
It sounds cheesy, but “smiling is the universal sign of warmth and confidence,” says Stocker. “When you smile, it puts others at ease and shows you’re at ease with yourself. Let’s Face it, we just feel better when we smile more. We feel confident, the happy feelings rush to our head and that energy spreads.”
Smiling is basically an easy way to ease your nerves and change the vibe – it tends to keep your audience more engaged too. That energy matters a lot more than speaking and presenting perfectly, too. “If you stumble on your words, or you accidentally click the wrong slide, it’s all good,” she adds. “The same thing could happen if you were in person. Simply smile, keep going and everyone breathes a little easier — including yourself.”
6. Remember that it’s not about you
At the end of the day, both Maher and Stocker are on the same page about remembering that the video call really isn’t about you. You’re there to convey information, contribute and share insights, strategize, or help others. Make it your mission to provide value instead of obsessing about what you look and sound like, and you’ll feel a lot more confident in the process.
