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Mastering the Art of Body Language… in Virtual Meetings!

Published Date

Woman sitting at her desk while working from home.

Nishwa Chaudhry

by Nishwa Chaudhry

4th-Year Student in International Management and Marketing

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all had to adjust to new things that are now the norm, from virtual classes to online work meetings, interviews, and even networking events on digital platforms. While it can be convenient to turn off your camera while cooking spaghetti or lounging around, some meetings require you to be aware and present, which includes turning on your camera. And body language is just as important in an online setting as it is in person. Here are three tips to master the art of body language in virtual meetings.

1. Maintain a good posture

You wouldn’t slouch in a job interview or a meeting in person, so it’s important to maintain that good posture in a virtual setting. Avoid sitting in your bed or on a couch because you will start hunching much quicker than you think. When you sit upright, not only do you appear more confident, but you also feel more confident. You will pay more attention in your meeting.

2. Don’t keep looking at yourself

A lot of people keep looking at themselves on the screen when it’s their turn to talk or even when they’re listening in during the meeting. This can lead to a loss of focus and it’s easy to get distracted when you’re more worried about what you look like to others. Instead, look directly into the camera when you are speaking. You would look at someone’s eyes when you’re in person but if you’re staring at yourself on the screen, it can look like you are unfocused and not really paying attention to them.

3. Smile! :)

Starting off your meeting with a smile will set the tone for the rest of the meeting. It shows that you’re a happy and positive person. It also puts other people at ease, possibly even yourself! A genuine smile makes you look friendly and approachable.

With these three tips, your body language will become significantly more effective in virtual meetings. Not only will it be better for you, it will also help others feel more at ease.