Look like a professional in the virtual world by Pilar Ortiz

Now that we stay on video calls or virtual conferences, taking care of our image and what we project with our body language is still as important as in person. 

Sometimes we believe that a screen limits our non-verbal communication, but I want to take you to break that bottle. What we communicate beyond words will always be important, and helps us project a confident and professional image. 

The first thing to keep in mind is recognizing the space you're in and what's on screen. Nowadays, most people work from home and do not have a specific area that works as an office. 

Some people have to turn the dining room table into a desk, which is not bad, it is part of the new normal that took us by surprise. 

But, even if this is your case, whoever sees you on the other side doesn't have to know. The advantage of being in front of the lens is that, by being careful, no one will recognize the space we are in.

That's why my first recommendation is to look around. Find a wall with a neutral background, a painting, or you can even use your organized library as a background. But avoid placing the camera in front of beds or even mirrors that make you more visible than you would like; besides windows, they will leave you in the backlight. You won't see yourself. 

Once you have that ideal place for the video call, my second recommendation is to try out the camera angles. 

For projecting authority and confidence, I recommend raising the camera lens to your eye level. Find the middle ground, not too high, which will give the perception of insecurity and minimize your image; nor too low, which will prevent the focus from being on the ceiling.  

When you have taken care of this, it's time to get into body language. Your hands will continue to be an invaluable resource to reinforce your message, and you may be wondering, how do I use them if I don't have enough space on camera? 

Here comes a super tip. Imagine you have an invisible desk right under your face. At that height, you can position your hands, without being too exaggerated with the movements. The idea is to be subtle. 

In the same way, your eyes can also be part of the exercise and connect with your audience. How? Don't look at the screen, look at the camera lens, so whoever listens to you will feel that you are looking directly to their eyes. 

Did you like it? Now it's time to put it into practice! Remember that you can always project your best image, no matter the circumstances. The important thing is to be aware of the external resources you have to communicate better.