Tips to Prepare for Video Appearances

When you first show up on camera, it’s not your words that land first. It’s the visual. When I’m working with a client who will be doing a lot of their interviews and sales calls online, we start with your setup. That’s because credibility begins the second you appear on camera. Here’s what we review: Camera Laptop camera? Is it good enough or do you need a plug-in webcam? Using your phone or iPad? Do you have a stable tripod at eye level? Audio Built-in mic, plug-in USB mic or a lav? If people have to strain to hear you or there’s too much background noise, your authority drops immediately. Lighting Outside? Direct sun? Walking and talking? Inside? Do you need a ring light or a soft light source to avoid harsh shadows? Lighting shapes perception more than most people realize. Backdrop Home office? Conference room? Is it clean, intentional, and aligned with how you want to be perceived or is there too much stuff making you look disorganized? And here’s what this really signals: When you invest in your setup, you’re demonstrating standards. You’re showing your audience that you take your message and yourself seriously. That visual investment communicates preparation, discernment, and executive presence before you ever speak. The goal isn’t “fancy.” It’s professional and high quality. Whether you’re on a video sales call, recording content for LinkedIn, or preparing for media interviews, your camera, audio, lighting, and backdrop are doing a lot of the talking for you. If you’re stepping into a bigger stage this year, start with the fundamentals. Have you invested in equipment? What upgrades are your favorites?

Recent work and world events have convinced me that practically everything you say and do as a leader must be thought of as a "media" appearance. It's likely that your video meeting is being recorded for playback. You're in a small box, competing with multi-taskers and so you must heighten your voice, expressions, and body language to convey energy and hold interest. And if you're speaking while sharing your screen, you're in an even smaller box! Think about it: Every audience member is in possession of a video and audio recording device. Almost every meeting is recorded and transcribed. Even if you can't see the device, you should proceed as if you are being audio recorded. So, speak as you were trained to do in media appearances: 👄 Use vocal variety: Vary pace (fast & slow), pitch (high & low), pause, power (volume), placement (where in the body) 👋 Use your hands so they are visible on the screen. Put down your pen and your notes! 👀 Use your eyes and eyebrows to convey emotion. 💬 Speak in short sentences that are easily editable on the periods. 🌍 To the extent possible, provide context in each sentence. 🌉 When answering questions, don't repeat negatives. i.e., Not, "No, we're not disappointed" but rather, "We're very happy that..." And, use bridging language to return to the message you want to deliver. i.e., "Let's go directly to our solution..." 🌟 Use highlighting language, such as, "The most important thing to know is..." and "The real issue is..." 👓 If you are going to read your notes, print on only the top 2/3rds of the page so you are not looking down and losing eye contact with the audience. #leadershipcommunication #presentationskills #mediaskills

I succeeded as an executive in part because I knew how to command a room. Today, it’s not enough to show up strong in person. Here are 3 ways to build a strong video presence: Note: video presence isn’t just for people aiming for leadership roles. Video interviews are the default, so presence on video matters to anyone looking for a new job. Here are three direct actions I recommend to increase your online hireability: 1) Image and Location Don’t take video calls from the car or train, and turn your camera on. Make sure you are in a quiet, peaceful location with a neutral backdrop. You don’t need to be in a professional studio, but your environment should say “I am taking this seriously.” Practical truths: --If it is a small call and you already have credibility with everyone on it, you can get away with the occasional call from bad locations. Make this choice intentionally and sparingly. --You can go off camera only when you are truly a lurker, with no expectation of being asked anything or needing to say anything. You cannot have presence as a black screen. 2) Be animated Make eye contact, use gestures and facial expressions, and don’t speak in a monotone. If you want people to be engaged with what you are saying, you also need to be engaged. 3) Enjoy the conversation and be present If it seems like you would rather be somewhere else, your team (or the interviewers) will notice. They will be less compelled to support you, work for you, or hire you. Your energy and excitement is a lever- use it. In today’s newsletter, startup founder Simran Dua has packed in pages of specific tips for how she projected presence as the new CEO of a team just as COVID forced everyone onto Zoom. She explains how to inject your virtual meetings with more energy for you and the team, how to get engagement from the group (and avoid the dreaded Zoom silence), and how to structure each piece of the meeting (including your background) for maximum impact. The piece is filled with tactical advice that you can begin using in your meetings today. Find the article here: https://lnkd.in/gZfS9HB9 Readers- What is the biggest virtual meeting mistake you regularly see?

Your video setup is sending signals before you even speak. After 500+ calls with terrible lighting and a nose-angle camera, I finally learned what actually matters for networking calls and interviews. Speech coach Jenni Steck, MFA, MS, CCC-SLP showed me the essentials most people miss: → Lighting makes or breaks your presence. Front-light your face, add ambient light. Never sit with windows behind you or you'll disappear into a silhouette. → Camera angle projects confidence. Position it at eye level. Too low looks unprofessional. Too high makes you look small. Stack books under your laptop if needed. → Framing controls attention. Fill about half the frame. Leave 1-2 inches above your head. Too much space looks disconnected. → Body language signals engagement. Sit forward, not back. Leaning away tells people you're not interested. These small adjustments changed how people responded on my calls. The difference between my setup then and now? Night and day. What's one change you've made to your video setup? #CareerNerds #Networking #VideoConferencing

Applying for International Roles? Let’s Talk About Videos I have been seeing a lot of mistakes lately with people applying for international jobs, and I thought to share because not everyone knows how this thing actually works. Recruitment processes are changing every day, and one of the biggest changes is the request for an introductory video rather than a cover letter alongside your CV. Now, let me tell you, if a company asks for a video and you don’t send one, there’s a very high chance your application will be overlooked. And even if you send a video, the quality of that video matters a lot. I have seen people record with poor lighting, noisy backgrounds, or even mumbling so their voice isn’t clear. Some wear clothes that are simply not appropriate, I have literally seen spaghetti straps, bonnets, and even hair nets in job application videos. Please, that is highly unprofessional. Nobody is asking you to wear a three piece suit, but at least look neat, put together, and presentable. Now, imagine you’re applying for a sales role or a customer service role where you’re going to be in front of customers. Your appearance really matters because you’re the first contact people have with the company. You’re basically the face of the brand. No company would want someone showing up to a client meeting looking tattered or unprepared, so why send a shabby video? Always act like the role is already yours. Represent well. Your environment also plays a huge role. A plain background, good lighting, and clear sound can make all the difference. And please, do yourself a favor and tilt your phone horizontally or better still record with a laptop/tablet, it just looks way more professional than the “Instagram story” style vertical videos. And nooo, don’t record your video while lying on the bed or walking on the road 😅. And one more thing, don’t rush it. If you’re tired or not prepared, it’s okay to wait until you can record something that truly represents you. A rushed video will only hurt you. In some companies, no matter how strong your CV is, a poor or missing video means you will not move forward. And if a recruiter even gives you another chance to re-record, that’s a big sign they really liked your CV, don’t waste it. The international job market is competitive, and honestly, it’s the little details like this that set you apart. That said, wishing you all happy new week ahead!

5 things that I do to ensure a striking virtual first impression! 🎯 Trust me, with these tips, nobody is going to forget you. As an Image Consultant, body language plays a significant role in my work. Often, when I'm invited to participate in panel discussions, I find myself constantly thinking of ways to better my virtual first impressions and ensure that I create a rapport with my audience. Here are a few tips that I, as an Image Maker/Image Consultant, follow to ensure a memorable first impression during a panel discussion: 1. Visualization Techniques 💭: This process begins before going live or recording. Take a moment to envision yourself delivering a confident and engaging presentation. Dive into this mental exercise with great detail. It allows your mind to grasp the flow and how you should present yourself when the cameras start rolling. Visualizing success can significantly boost your actual confidence when you're in front of the camera. 2. Use Mirroring:🪞 Once you're live, employ mirroring techniques to establish a connection with your audience. Subtly mimic the body language and speech patterns of your audience. This can create a sense of connection and trust, ultimately making you appear more confident and relatable. 3. Storytelling Mastery:🎙️ Integrate personal anecdotes and stories into your content. Sharing relatable stories can enhance your authenticity and relatability, ultimately boosting your confidence as viewers connect with your experiences. 4. Empower Your Background 🌅: Pay attention to your backdrop. Create a visually appealing and clutter-free environment that aligns with your brand or message. Incorporating relevant visuals or props can heighten your credibility and confidence. 5. Micro-Expressions😊: Familiarise yourself with micro-expressions—subtle facial cues that convey emotions. Being aware of these expressions can help you convey confidence and authenticity. Practice controlling these micro-expressions to appear more composed and in control. These strategies are some of the ways I ensure that both my clients and I make a positive and impactful first impression, even in virtual settings.
 Is there something that you try before virtual events? Share them below - I’d love to know! ⬇ #imageconsultant #imagemaker #bodylanguage #softskills #virtualmeetings #paneldiscussion

Do you spend time watching live content on #socialmedia? Here's what I learned after hosting 133 live Q&As that accumulated 122.8 million views on the World Health Organization's Facebook, X and LinkedIn accounts: 🎙 It's important to find a way to make viewers your content co-creators by allowing them to ask questions or take part in the conversation directly. It's social media broadcasting, not TV broadcasting. 👩💻 Live features are a useful tool to help an organization bring the human face and personalities behind the brand closer to the followers. 👩⚕️ Live feature is also a great tool when you want to communicate a complex issue that can't fit into 280 characters, to avoid misunderstandings and mitigate misinformation spreading. It allows the subject matter experts to illustrate and humanise complex answers. It's also an opportunity to debunk mis- or disinformation circulating. 🔛 Consistency in the programme, format, speakers is very important to build trust and a regular viewer community. 📈 A success measure should be the quality of engagement, rather than the quantity. We, at WHO, have built a community of regular viewers, which has led to an increased quality of questions that we receive during the live programme. ❗ Don't get into the seat in front of a camera/mic without doing your homework - the prep is key to a successful session. The prep includes: - social media and news analysis on the subject to make your conversation relevant - writing a skeleton of possible conversation, so your guests can prepare - have a prep meeting/chat with your guests. If it's their first time, do a thorough prep session or ran through with question examples and let them practice their answers. - make sure to test the mics ahead of time - make sure to test the connection ahead of time, if your live is done remotely - make sure your guests feel comfortable with the space - explore possibilities to advertise the session in advance ⌚ Do your best to be punctional, so your viewers aren't waiting for too long, if you advertise the session in advance. 🎦 Technology is amazing when it works. But there's always a possibility that something may fail. Don't be afraid to acknowledge it, apologise if needed and improvise. Last Friday, I hosted a live Q&A on #COVID19 with Dr Maria Van Kerkhove - my mic didn't work well. So we shared Maria's mic back and forth, until our colleagues behind the scenes figured out the problem. It wasn't ideal, but the show must go on! (P.S. We tested everything in advance!) Below are a few examples of how we run WHO live sessions, thanks to Chris Black, Mark N. and the team. They have significantly advanced our set up and technology - but their work merits a post on its own! To stream on multiple platforms, we're using Restream - I will also write about that development some time soon. Until then, let me know how you're running social media lives, or give us a feedback on what we can do better.

KEEP THESE 8 THINGS WHILE PREPARING FOR YOUR INTERVIEW AS AN INTERNATIONAL TALENT….. After I arrived in the UK, I have been privileged to sit in interview panels for international candidates seeking overseas jobs. Most of the time, I am utterly disappointed at many candidates! They end up messing up a golden chance due to poor skills in managing interviews. Getting an invitation for an overseas job no longer comes easy. If you eventually get one, and you want to make the best of impressions at virtual interviews, take note of these: 1️⃣ Research Local Customs Before an interview, research the cultural expectations of greetings, handshakes, or even how formal your responses should be. 2️⃣Dress for the Industry While a well-tailored suit might be the norm in Lagos, interview dress codes in places like Silicon Valley lean toward business casual. When interviewing with a global firm, take the time to understand the company’s dress culture. 3️⃣Test Your Technology 24 Hours Beforehand Whether it’s on Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Zoom or Skype, one of the biggest blunders you can make as an international candidate is NOT TESTING AND MASTERING YOUR TECHNOLOGY before your virtual interview! It is embarrassing to turn up at interviews and see your interviewer teaching you how to operate your technology. Don't let it happen! 4️⃣ Understand Communication Styles In African cultures, responses can sometimes be indirect to show politeness or humility. However, companies in countries like Germany or the U.S. expect clear and direct communication. Balance politeness with being assertive. 5️⃣ Show Up 15 Minutes Before Time One of the most impressive thing I have seen candidates do at interview is showing up before time. It always creates a lasting impression! 6️⃣ Sort Out Your Internet Issues. Check your internet connection, sign in to the video, turn on the sound and video to ensure everything is in working order in time before the conversation starts. Coming to interviews to give excuses about poor connection does not sound nice! 7️⃣ Mind Your Body Language Because you are being interviewed on camera does not mean your interviewer can not interprete your body language. Sit up straight, ensure your camera is placed so your face is in the middle of your screen (not too much blank space above or below your head), always maintain eye contact smiling straight at the camera. 8️⃣ Build rapport When communicating virtually, it's still necessary to find ways to establish rapport. You can do this by being prepared to talk about a common interest, asking how your interviewer’s experience has been with virtual interviews or by finding some other neutral topic with which to learn more about your interviewer. Be careful not to overdo this! What challenges are you facing with virtual interviews? Let me know in the comment section. Ready to tackle your next international interview with confidence? Let’s make it happen!

What being on national TV taught me about staying composed when your heart is racing. Here are my 5 favourite research-backed tips: 📍 Ground your body using “contact points” Place both feet flat on the floor and feel where your body meets the chair or ground. This signals safety to your brain and reduces dissociation under pressure. This is common in trauma-informed performance coaching. 🗣 Use a conversational voice, not a “broadcast voice” Imagine speaking to one person who is listening closely. This reduces the pressure to “perform” and helps your tone and pacing stay natural. Media coaches call this conversational framing. ⏳ Let yourself pause for 1–2 seconds between ideas Pausing keeps the prefrontal cortex (clarity and reasoning) in control instead of the amygdala (fight-or-flight). Do not fear silence! It's a great public speaking tool for you to process the information and add emphasis. 🎯 Shift focus from self to message When we think “How do I look?”, anxiety spikes. When we shift to “Is this helpful?”, the social threat response drops. This is the essence of cognitive reframing. 🧠 Breathe out longer than you breathe in When you extend your exhale, you activate the parasympathetic nervous system (your calming response). Try a 4 second inhale, 6 second exhale. This reduces heart rate and lowers cortisol, backed by Stanford School of Medicine research. The calmest people on camera are not always the most confident, they are simply the most regulated. Regulation > Confidence. #innovation #entrepreneurship #publicspeaking

You ever catch yourself on camera and cringe? 😅 That was me, sitting in the virtual greenroom before EVENTASTIC with GURU Media Hub. I clicked into the tab, lounging all the way back in my chair, with my camera pointing up at me. Y'all. I. Look. ROUGH. 😳 I immediately sat up, which helped a little bit (the middle photo). But the real change came from sitting up properly, adjusting my camera angle to be more straight-on, and holding just a bit of tension in my face. I look happier, healthier, and more engaged. 🙌 These screenshots are literally 2 minutes apart across all 3 images, with the same lighting, same laptop positioning (ie: I didn't put my laptop on a riser or significantly change the distance on the table), and same mental state (ie: not listening to music, talking about a spicy topic, or reading a heady page). Which of these people do YOU want to talk to? When we talk about showing up with "presence", looking "trustworthy", and staying "engaged" in a virtual environment, this little series is the perfect example of how small changes make a huge difference. Nitty gritty tips: - Sit facing a window to take advantage of the natural light - Point your camera straight-on or slightly down to ensure you're eye-level with the camera - Sit up straight, and frame yourself in the center of the video screen to include your chest, entire face, and a bit of space above your head (PS - My friend Lorraine K. Lee wrote a whole book on "Unforgettable Presence". Grab a copy of you want more practical tips on showing up with impact: https://lnkd.in/ezjNRJ5H)