By Marisa Guerrero AIFD, CFD
We are spending more and more time in online meetings—board meetings, wedding consultations, check-in with friends and more. While these tend to be a little less formal than in-person meetings, we all still want to look our best. Here are six quick tips to make you shine at your next Zoom meeting.
1. Windows are for looking out. Don’t sit with your back to the window, the backlighting makes it hard to see your beautiful face.
2. Turn on all the lights, open the curtains, or get fancy and use a ring light. These will all help to brighten your face.
3. Like your mother always told you, sit up straight. Your lounge chair may be comfy but it doesn’t let you sit in the most professional posture. Pick an office or kitchen chair that will ensure you sit a little taller.
4. What’s your name? Is that what it says on the screen? If your name is not displaying correctly, you can change it. If you are in a professional meeting, it’s important that people know who they are speaking with, so your goofy twitter handle may not be the name you want your colleagues or clients to see. Here is a quick resource for changing your name while in a meeting: https://teaching.nmc.edu/knowledgebase/changing-your-name-in-a-zoom-meeting/
5. Dress one step down from what you might wear to an in-person meeting. If you would wear a suit and tie to a meeting, a dress shirt will work just fine for a Zoom meeting. If you usually wear a cute dress, a cute top and jeans is appropriate. And please, put on some pants!
6. What’s that noise? Everyone has been in a meeting when someone shuffling papers or their kids are playing in the background. Those things are all fine, life must go on even during a meeting, but it can make it difficult for other attendees to hear what is being said. Keep yourself muted, unless you are speaking to cut down on the background noise.
As floral designers, flowers or greenery in the background would be a nice touch but putting in a little effort to look professional is more important. Your clients and colleagues want to see you at your best, even when you cannot be together. See you on Zoom!
