Zoom into meetings with perfect backgrounds

AN IDEAL BACKDROP CAN HELP GIVE A SENSE OF BEING AT WORK EVEN WHEN YOU’RE HOME

There’s no escaping or denying the fact that Zoom has taken over our lives. We didn’t anticipate, four weeks ago, how seamlessly teams would work and organisations would continue to run based on these four letters. It’s helped us connect, collaborate and continue with our daily functional roles and responsibilities — albeit with some WFH adjustments. Since nobody knows what the new ‘normal’ is going to eventually look like, we’re going to continue to rely on Zoom for the foreseeable future. And you shouldn’t let go of this opportunity to still leave a mark during your virtual encounters.

YOUR WORK SPACE

We’ve all had colleagues join a meeting with a messy bed in the background or poor lighting or questionable photos hanging on the wall. While this work-from-home rule has been iterated constantly, it’s important to mention again that a quiet, well-lit and aesthetic space is not only important for your ‘home office’, but also for your online virtual meetings. Ensure that your space isn’t cluttered, is well-lit and with comfortable seating so that you are not adjusting your seat or your screen every five minutes. Something as simple as facing a window instead of having your back to it or placing a small potted plant or family photo behind you can uplift your online presence. It can talk a little more about your personality and showcase your interests and achievements too. YOUR VIRTUAL BACKGROUND If the above isn’t feasible in your work space, and you’d like to add some character or branding to your visual presence, make use of Zoom’s option to use virtual backgrounds. You can go beyond the default Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco or outer space and create your own artworks in a few minutes.

Pitching to a potential client? Have a branded creative with your company logo in a corner. Meeting colleagues? Infuse some normalcy by using a stock photo of your company’s headquarters or city. Catching up with friends? Have some fun by keeping throwback photos as your background.

Free apps like Canva already have Zoom background templates that will take minimal time and effort to customise and use. Let your interiors talk about you, your personality and your taste. Here are a few quick tips to make sure you leave a great impression in your virtual meetings and convert them from awkward to awesome:

• Sit facing the light. A well-lit image makes for a nicer impression.

• Make sure the background is simple, clean and talks about your personality — not your laundry or bedroom clutter.

• Use plants, photos and artefacts to liven up the space and become ice-breakers and conversation starters.

• A comfortable chair will go a long way in keeping you relaxed throughout.