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Inspiration

Put your best face forward

ne thing many of us wouldn't have guessed You can also choose a virtual background if your office
we'd be doing now is participating in frequent environment creates a cluttered or distracting background.
Zoom and other video conferencing meetings. You can select backgrounds tailored to the types of events
O What for many was an occasionally used tech- you're attending—more professional for work and perhaps
nology has become essential for work check-ins, family more whimsical for family and friends.
gatherings, industry conferences, medical appointments,
counseling sessions, music lessons, drama festivals, and Run a tight ship
more. Whether you're a meeting's host or a participant,
silence your device notifications before you log on so
While restrictions on our activities due the COVID-19 that annoying little beeps and buzzes do not interrupt
crisis have been easing and we all look forward to when presentations during the event. Mute yourself when you're
we can meet in person with colleagues as well as attend not speaking, too, and tell others to do the same, so no one
sporting events, concerts and other favorite happenings, will hear barking dogs, crying babies or other noises in the
some of us will continue to use video conferencing more background.
than we did before the pandemic. This may be especially
true for events that typically require the time and expense For meeting hosts, test your technology ahead of time,
of travel. to make sure your setup is working well before the

meeting to reduce the chance of having to troubleshoot
Given that video conferencing is here to stay, it's important while attendees watch. Also, avoid being bombarded
to bring our best game to this affordable, flexible business by unwanted guests on Zoom (Zoombombing) by using
tool. Here are several things I've learned over the last few a different randomly generated meeting ID for each
months. meeting, and do not share your assigned ID publicly.
Look like a pro Also, use the waiting room feature so people won't enter
the meeting until you approve them; admit only people
Even though you won't be meeting in person, if it's a work- who are logged into the platform; and consider locking
related meeting, dress professionally just as you would meetings a few minutes after they start to prevent new
for any other business occasion. Experts say solid-colored people from joining midstream.
tops works best, but preferably not black (too dark) or
bright white (too blobby) when it comes to pleasing the These are commonsense things we can all do to increase the
camera's eye. likelihood our virtual meetings will be both pleasurable
and productive.
Be sure the room you're in has plenty of light so you don't
look like you're in Frankenstein's basement but not so light
that you look washed out. Also, in Zoom, you can touch
up your image using Video Settings accessed via the caret
(^) symbol to the right of the video icon. You can also
display a photo of yourself instead of live streaming your
video, which is particularly suitable for meetings you'll be Kate Gillespie, President and CEO
watching but not participating in.
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