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Body language tips for an engaging video meeting

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LeSoft
Nov 2021

The world of work has completely changed because of the pandemic. Everything has moved online, including the meeting you used to attend several times a day; every day is now virtual meetings.

In this age of virtual conferences, our nonverbal signs are often heard louder than words.
Even though we meet everyone in person, it is essential to keep proper body language and communicate professionally.

According to the researcher, Albert Mehrabian, "55% of communication is body language, 38% is the tone of voice, and 7% is the actual words spoken." From this, it is clear how much body language will count when it comes to virtual meetings.

Here are a few body language tips for an engaging video meeting:

Posture

Posture is important!
While attending virtual meetings, there are specific ways in which you should not sit. Slumping in your chair may seem uninterested and unenergetic. You should lean on the desk; it makes you seem bored in the conversation. Don’t lean back on the chair; it may sound like you are not bothered about the conversation. So instead of these postures:

  • Sit straight and lean slightly towards the screen; it shows your interest.
  • Relax and expand your shoulders; it shows you are fully engaged and confident.

Your positive posture increases other people’s interest level and boosts their confidence.

Sit back from the camera so colleagues can see your gestures.

Hand gestures can help to boost your charisma when you’re on a call. You can use hand gestures to say ‘hello’ to people when the virtual meeting starts. Also, you can use hand gestures when you try to explain things. 
If you are sitting close to your screen, others will miss out on your hand gestures, so next time when you turn up for a virtual meeting, arrange your screen position to make your hands and upper torso visible to your attendees.

Make constant eye contact.

Looking into the camera is the same as making direct eye contact, so position your eyes at the same horizontal level as the camera. You can adjust the size using books beneath the laptop. Try not to distract your eye contact by looking down or reading other things, as eye movements can be easily detected.
Eye contact is vital for face-to-face meetings, so you want to maintain the right amount of eye contact directly into the lens as other people can notice this quickly.

Smile and nod- a lot

Make sure you smile during your virtual meetings. It doesn’t mean you have to smile over as it may come across as fake. At the beginning of the virtual conference itself, greet everyone with a warm smile, the same as you treat them in-person.
Creating a positive ambiance can make conversation smooth. So next time when you attend a virtual meeting, remember to signal your presence by giving smiles and nodding your head.

Avoid touching your face.

Some signals like fiddling with your hair, touching your face or nose, chewing the lips, etc., show you are nervous or distracted. Avoid unnecessary gestures if you don’t want to come across as insecure or anxious during your virtual meetings.
Instead of these confusing gestures, nod your head when you agree with some opinion or raise your eyebrows to show your interest and keep your hands on your lap or takedown important notes, if any; these signs will show your interest and attention to virtual meetings.

Pay attention

Stay attentive and avoid multitasking while you are attending a virtual meeting. You have to stay focused and engaged throughout to listen to what the other person is discussing actively.

Leave room for your hands.

While speaking, use your hands to show your engagement and enthusiasm. Throughout the video meeting, try to follow this method.
Try to avoid remaining statue throughout the video; instead, use your hands to count something while you are pointing out a certain number of things, or use your hands to show how big or small a particular fact is, etc.
So during your next virtual meeting, don’t forget to use these simple and natural gestures. Show your interest level, and it will help to boost another person’s confidence level.

Mirror the other person’s body language

Mirroring is a powerful tool to make a bond and understanding with the other person. 
Actively listen and mirror his or her gestures, postures, or tone of voice. Mirroring subconsciously helps to build a stronger connection with the person you are communicating with.

Set yourself up for video call success

Face-to-face communication is essential to build stronger relationships with your teams. 
Remember the wisdom "it's not what you say; it's how you say it."

During the virtual meeting, you may need more than words to convey your message. Make use of these body language tips to improve your next video meetings. All you need to do is put your "best" foot forward and be aware of your mannerisms, facial expressions, and posture.
And last but not least, don’t forget to put on a smile.