How To Utilize Body Language In Virtual Meetings

Oftentimes when we attend a virtual meeting, we debate whether to turn the camera on or off for the call. And even when people do choose to include video, the camera is set up to show little more than someone’s face and shoulders. In doing this, we deprive ourselves and the other participants of a significant part of our communication toolbox: body language.

In the 1970s, Professor Albert Mehrabian proposed a new model of understanding communication, where body language is actually much more important than verbal communication. This model suggests that only 7% of communication is based on what we actually say — meaning that the remaining 93% is all of those other less direct aspects of communication, including tone of voice and body language. Whether we agree or not with the specific number of 7%, it is undeniable that non-verbal communication is essential to convey what we think and feel.

And yet, in virtual meetings, we limit ourselves in the breadth of non-verbal communication we can use. In this article, we will explore some tips and ideas to utilize body language in future virtual meetings, so that you can communicate as clearly and effectively as possible.

Framing

In a virtual meeting, we have the choice of how much of ourselves we make visible to the other participants. If we choose to show only our face and shoulders, we lose the ability to communicate with our hands and, to a large extent, with our posture. On the other hand (no pun intended), if we zoom out to show more of our upper body, allowing for more communication with hand gestures and posture, we make ourselves small on the screen. Either option comes with its disadvantages. It is, though, possible to find a happy medium.

Ideally, you will want to frame the image you project onto the screen in such a way as to focus on your head and shoulders while leaving enough room for hand gestures, making sure that the hands are always visible and that they don’t suddenly pop into the frame in a way that might appear unnatural.

Presentation

One advantage of having a virtual meeting is that you have greater control over the context you present yourself in. You can select the background that suits the image you wish to come across. This could be a a well-stocked bookshelf, specific pieces of artwork, or maybe even some of your tech gadgets, depending on the type of expertise or passion you wish to convey.

Many virtual conference platforms also have virtual backgrounds you can choose from, which are especially helpful for people who work in distracting spaces or don’t feel comfortable sharing part of their home. If you do choose to use one of these backgrounds for formal or business meetings however, it’s important to choose an appropriate image that isn’t too playful or comical, as well as making sure you aren’t coming across as disingenuous. In other words, save those beach resort backgrounds for your virtual happy hours. In fact, as long as your natural background is appropriate and isn’t distracting for other participants, you may want to just leave it as is. After all, virtual meetings give you the opportunity to share something personal with other participants, and this connection can ultimately help you build relationships and feel connected with your coworkers.

Much like a physical meeting, your attire will also communicate a lot to the other participants. And even though you are just on a video call with limited visibility, you should still dress for every situation. Even if you only plan on showing yourself from the chest up, make sure you are wearing appropriate clothing from head to foot. Who knows, you may have someone knock on the door and may have to get up to go answer it. Imagine what kind of image you would be convey if you stood up and were wearing pajama pants — or even worse, no pants at all.

For women or men looking to impress the hiring manager, the same rules apply for a virtual meeting as they would for a physical meeting. You should do a little research to find out the expectations of the company in regard to attire and dress accordingly. And, if in doubt, remember that it would be difficult to overdress for a hiring interview.

Posture

We can convey a lot simply by our posture. This is why you will want to frame the video camera in such a way as to allow the attendees to see how you are sitting. Sit toward the edge of the seat — not against the backrest, which can easily lead to slouching. Sitting on the edge of the seat with your back straight, shoulders back, and head up conveys the message that you are alert and attentive.

You can then lean back should you want to express that you are distancing yourself from something someone says, or lean in further to express an especially keen interest in what is being said.

Facial Expressions

When participating in a virtual meeting, since your face will be taking up a significant portion of the screen, any and all facial expressions you use will be amplified. This is not a bad thing. In fact, you should use this to your advantage. Especially when several people are present at a virtual meeting and the risk is high that participants will talk over one another, relying on facial expressions will go a long way toward minimizing this risk.

Your eyes and your mouth will convey most of the non-verbal information you are trying to get across. In order to retain maximum control over this information, you’ll want to make a concerted effort to refrain from making any inadvertent gestures with your eyes and mouth. Avoid touching your face, unless you wish to convey frustration or exasperation. You should also avoid wetting your lips or biting on the insides of your cheeks.

Feel free to exaggerate the intentional gestures, the widening of your eyes to express surprise or excitement, a furrowed brow to express concern or uncertainty, your smile or frown, etc. Exaggerating these intentional non-verbal cues will help differentiate them from any inadvertent gestures you might make.

Use Your Hands to Command and/or Divert Attention

It is nearly impossible for us to avoid looking at someone’s hands when they are in motion. This is why performers and public speakers use their hands to direct the attention of their audience. A skilled performer or public speaker will use their hands to guide their audience to the conclusion or response they want to elicit, much like an orchestral conductor cues and leads the musicians at their command.

You should, though, pay special attention to the perspective of the camera and try to avoid having your hand gestures obscure your face. In many instances, that can be distracting for the listener. And, much like with facial expressions, a virtual meeting is no place for subtlety when it comes to non-verbal communication.

The Takeaway

When comparing virtual meetings to physical meetings, in many ways you have more control over how you present yourself to the other participants. Take advantage of this, starting with the attire you wear and the background you choose to present. Frame the image in such a way as to allow you to use your hands and your posture to give important non-verbal cues, and try to remain still with eyes focused on the screen when it is not your turn to speak. And then when it is your turn, take full advantage of the non-verbal cues we’ve outlined in this article. Because remember, at the end of the day, body language can be much more impactful than the words you say.