Who would have thought that the little, sub-par camera on top of our laptop screens will turn out to be our life-lines in 2020?

Yet, here we are, 8 months into 2020, heavily dependent on video calls to get our daily bread. With the work setup changes and evolved workstyle, video call meetings from a corner of our home has somehow become the norm. Now, this change was clearly not anticipated by anybody and neither were we equipped to handle these circumstances. So it’s time to improvise. 

Certain points to keep in mind:

• The focus should always be on you. Your environment should not be distracting.
• White Space is essential to give some room for visual balance
• Check your internet and audio. There’s nothing worse than having a bad audio connection while on video call meetings.

Let’s look at some ways to make the most out of the resources available to us:

1. Check the Background

It’s best to have a solid background with muted or neutral colors. Arrange your workstation against a plain wall with minimal distracting elements. If a plain wall isn’t available, the same can be created using fabrics or wallpapers. Simple chart papers can also be used to create a makeshift meeting backdrop.

2. Adjust the Lighting

Natural light is always the best option during the day. If you don’t have access to the same, create ambient lighting in the room using pendant lights or floor lamps. Soft, warm lights are ideal for video meetings. Make sure your screen brightness is conducive to your eyes and does not project an unsightly glare.

3. Accessorize the Space

Now that you have your background and lighting in place, it’s time to move on to the decor aspect of styling. Artworks, clocks, and books are a nice touch for people in creative professions whereas calendars, plants, and soft boards can be used for corporate professionals. Using things like post-its and stick-on wall-art can help make a creative backdrop fast and on a temporary basis.

Video call meetings are single-handedly keeping the world together and working in these uncertain times. Adjusting to the new normal, we must continue to keep our work as professional as possible. Ensuring a decent backdrop for your video call meeting is only a stepping stone to project your best front in meetings!