Although we are post pandemic, video call platforms including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet  are here to stay. No matter how often you participate on video calls, you can always get better. Here are five ways to improve your presence:

• Improve Your Background: Your background on a video call is even more important than what you are wearing! Like it or not, you are on stage on video calls even more than in person. You never know who is checking out your background, and how much they are noticing. If you do not have an appealing and professional background, virtual backgrounds are easy to install. Here are two sites offer free backgrounds that you can download:
  
  https://www.pexels.com/search/zoom%20background
  https://pixabay.com/images/search/zoom%20background
  
  When using a virtual background, make sure the background is professional and complements the colors of your shirt/blouse and skin tone, and switch out your backgrounds accordingly. Turn on your camera prior to the call and do a self-check.
• Adjust Your Camera Position: Ensure that your camera is positioned at eye level. Many people position their computer or phone too low, unaware that the camera is low and not eye level. This will give the appearance of you looking down into the screen, which is not an attractive position. If needed, place your computer or phone on a stack of books to make sure that your camera is at eye level.

• Look Through the Camera When Speaking: As you probably know, it is ideal to look at the camera rather than the faces on your screen when you are speaking; however, to establish even better focused eye contact, look through the camera rather than at the camera. You can gain feedback from others by periodically glancing at them on the screen; but overall when speaking, make sure to look through the camera.

• Maintain Pleasant Facial Expressions: As soon as you’re on camera, be intentional about a pleasant expression. People cannot read any body language except your shoulders and higher, so facial expressions are extremely important on video calls. If you have a ‘thinking expression’ on your face, others can perceive that as you are unhappy or disengaged. Do a self-check often of how you are coming across non-verbally.

• Review Your Recorded Calls: Review yourself on past recorded calls. Doing this can be agony, but it will help shed light on how you can improve. For instance, are you using filler words? Are you interrupting? Are you talking over people? How is your facial expression? These recordings are a gift, in that you can review how you come across, and it will help you be more intentional on improving your presence in the future.