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LESSON 13 · BODY LANGUAGE

Look Confident on Video Calls

Thirty-two ways to look confident on video calls, from camera angle to posture to the little signals that travel.

Video shrinks you to a rectangle. Make every inch count.

40 tipsEasy things to say7-day plan

40 tips that really help

These ideas come from Presence (Amy Cuddy), What Every BODY Is Saying (Joe Navarro), The Definitive Book of Body Language (Allan and Barbara Pease), and everyday practice. Pick one tip and try it today.

TIP 1

Video shrinks you to a rectangle

On a call, people see only your face and shoulders in a small window, so every small movement counts more. Good camera height, light and a few deliberate gestures make you look calm and capable.

TRY THIS
Spend five minutes setting up your camera before your next call.

TIP 2

Camera at eye level

A camera that looks up at your chin or down on your head distorts your look. Raise your laptop on books until the lens is level with your eyes.

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Put your laptop on a stack of books.

TIP 3

Sit an arm's length away

Sitting too close makes your face loom and sitting too far makes you small. About an arm’s length shows your head and shoulders nicely.

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Check your distance with a test call.

TIP 4

Frame head and shoulders

Show your head, shoulders and a little of your chest. Leave a small gap above your head. It looks professional and lets people see your gestures.

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Adjust your frame in a test recording.

TIP 5

Light your face from the front

Face a window or put a lamp slightly behind your screen. Light from behind hides your face and makes you look tired.

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Turn your chair to face the light.

TIP 6

Keep a tidy background

A simple background keeps attention on you. Remove clutter or use a neutral wall.

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Tidy what the camera sees.

TIP 7

Sit tall, relaxed

Good posture shows on camera even from the waist up. Sit back with your back supported and your shoulders relaxed.

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Reset your posture before you join.

TIP 8

Look at the lens

Looking at the lens, not the screen, feels like eye contact to others. Use it at key moments.

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Look at the camera for your main point.

TIP 9

Smile at the start

A warm smile as you join sets the tone for the whole call. Smile with your eyes and say hello.

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Smile as you greet.

TIP 10

Nod visibly

Slightly bigger nods on video show you are listening. Small nods get lost.

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Nod clearly while others speak.

TIP 11

Use your hands in frame

Gestures within the frame add life to your talking. Keep them between your chin and your waist so they are visible.

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Gesture within the frame.

TIP 12

Do not hide your hands

Hands out of view can make you look closed. Bring them into the frame occasionally.

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Bring a hand up as you speak.

TIP 13

Avoid constant movement

Swaying or fidgeting looks magnified on camera. Keep your body fairly still and move deliberately.

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Settle your body.

TIP 14

Avoid leaning too far in

Leaning toward the camera exaggerates your face. Sit back a little.

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Sit back.

TIP 15

Avoid touching your face

Touching your face or hair is very visible on video. Keep your hands calm.

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Rest your hands.

TIP 16

Hide self-view

Watching yourself makes you self-conscious and pulls your eyes from the lens. Hide it.

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Turn off self-view.

TIP 17

Use headphones

Clear audio helps you look and sound confident. Headphones reduce echo and let you hear better.

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Wear headphones.

TIP 18

Mute when not speaking

Muting reduces noise. Unmute with a smile when you start.

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Know your shortcut.

TIP 19

Dress for the frame

Solid colours look clean on camera. Avoid tiny patterns that shimmer.

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Choose a plain top.

TIP 20

Test before the call

A quick test shows light, sound and frame. A minute of testing saves stress.

TRY THIS
Do a test.

TIP 21

Scene: a job interview on video

Look at the lens for answers, sit back, smile and keep your hands visible and calm. Test everything the night before.

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Rehearse once on camera.

TIP 22

Scene: a team meeting

Keep your camera on if possible, nod and use the chat. You will look engaged and present.

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Show up fully.

TIP 23

Scene: a client call

Look at the lens, speak slowly and smile. Clarity and warmth win trust.

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Prepare three key points.

TIP 24

Scene: a presentation

Stand if you can, look at the lens and use clear gestures in the frame. Share your screen smoothly.

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Rehearse sharing.

TIP 25

Scene: a one-to-one

Mix looking at the lens and at the face. Keep your face soft and nod.

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Be warm.

TIP 26

Scene: a webinar

Speak to the lens as if to one person. It feels personal to many.

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Imagine one friend.

TIP 27

Scene: a family call

Look at the lens and smile for relatives. Children and elders love direct looks.

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Look at the camera.

TIP 28

Scene: a date over video

Choose a quiet, well-lit place, look at the lens at warm moments and smile. Be yourself.

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Relax and smile.

TIP 29

Handle lag

Lag makes people talk over each other. Pause a beat before replying.

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Wait a beat.

TIP 30

Handle interruptions

If something interrupts you, smile and say “Sorry, one moment.” Stay calm.

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Stay composed.

TIP 31

Handle technical glitches

If your video freezes, smile, say you will reconnect and stay calm. Have a back-up device ready.

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Prepare a back-up.

TIP 32

Handle fatigue

Video calls are tiring. Take breaks, stretch and look away from the screen.

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Stretch between calls.

TIP 33

Take care of your eyes

Look at something far away every twenty minutes. It rests your eyes and keeps your face relaxed.

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Look away for twenty seconds.

TIP 34

Take care of your voice

Sip water and speak at an easy pace. A calm voice goes with a calm face.

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Drink water.

TIP 35

Use virtual backgrounds wisely

A blur is fine. Avoid backgrounds that cut around your hair. A real tidy room is best.

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Test your background.

TIP 36

Practise with a friend

Do a test call and ask how you look and sound. Small tweaks help.

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Ask for feedback.

TIP 37

Record yourself

Watch a one-minute recording and note two things to improve.

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Record and review.

TIP 38

Be kind to yourself

Everyone looks a bit odd on video. Do your best and relax.

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Smile.

TIP 39

Celebrate looking at ease

When people say you look calm and confident on calls, enjoy it.

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Note a compliment.

TIP 40

Arrive a minute early and settle

Join a minute before the start, check your face on screen, take a slow breath and smile at early arrivals. Starting calm makes the rest of the call easier.

TRY THIS
Join one minute early to your next call.

Easy things to say

When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many everyday situations.

OPEN

“Hi everyone, thanks for joining.”

CHECK

“Can you all hear me clearly?”

“Let me share my screen.”

ASK

“Would anyone like to add something?”

THANK

“Thank you all for your time.”

“Talk to you all soon.”

Your first week

One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.

DAY 1
Raise the camera

DAY 2
Frame head and shoulders

DAY 3
Light your face

DAY 4
Sit tall

DAY 5
Look at the lens

DAY 6
Use your hands

DAY 7
Smile at the start

More lessons in “Body Language”

Keep going. Small steps every day make a big change.

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