How to Make Virtual Meetings Feel More Tangible | Christine vs. Work

0:00Propel Fitness Water with Gatorade electrolytes, zero sugar, and vitamins. Propel hydrates better than water to help you get the most out of your workout and get back to your best self. What propels you? Propel with Gatorade electrolytes. When you need to build up your team to handle the growing chaos at work, use Indeed Sponsored Jobs. It gives your job post the boost it needs to be seen and helps reach people with the right skills, certifications, and more. Spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Listeners of this show will get a$75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com slash podcast.

0:37That's Indeed.com slash podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Need a hiring hero? This is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. If you're like me, your days are filled with back to back meetings and by meetings, it's video chat. Yeah, you're just looking at the camera, talking with your colleagues, trying to be there. But am I really present? As this becomes the new normal, I want to get really good at this. I took my questions to a body language expert. You don't have to be stoic, non-moving robots. It just is not interesting. Her business is all about helping people be better communicators and bringing presence into their day-to-day at work.

1:17She used to be on the Canadian rhythmic gymnastics team and also a member of the Boston Ballet. So she knows her stuff. How important really is body language? When I am doing virtual meetings and I'm speaking with someone who is present and engaged and using their full faculty of expression to communicate with me, I forget that we're not in the same physical space, right? For the moment I'm like there with them in a present moment and at the end of the day, like that's what we need right now more than anything. Can you talk about a little bit like what constraints are present in the virtual environment we're in and tips or ways to manage those constraints.

2:01A lot of people get so focused on what they're seeing that they forget that they're also seen. Right. So they might get like way too close to the camera. Then all you can see is my big face. Right. Or they'll actually be so far away that you can't see the details of their facial expression. so the general rule that I give for distance um is about three feet from your laptop right can I get it can I get a tape measure oh yeah totally from my camera okay let me let me try this off yeah love it more like a tailor measure but we'll see how oh my god that was so speedy like two so two and a half to three feet I would say and it's like from the back of your laptop.

2:46Okay. So this is three feet right here. So, and then I guess I could scoot a little in for two and a half. Yeah, I would do two and a half for you, but to be honest, now I'm seeing so much more of you. Okay, cool. And oh God, it's incredible. Like you opened your arms and I could see all of your arms. So we have the camera at eye level, which means that now when I look into the lens, what you see is my eyes actually looking at your face. Would you suggest that people turn off their self cam when they're in a meeting? I would say absolutely turn off that self camera. I think that an image of yourself, especially when it's animated and live, is like a magnet for our eyes.

3:34It can also kind of take you out of this conversation that you're trying to have with someone. And so in that sense, I always turn off my self camera because I find it exceptionally distracting and disconnecting. That's like a big move. I'll have to figure that out. I don't think I've ever done that. One of my favorite things that I learned from Rachel is this thing called physical anchoring. It's this really simple physical exercise that you can do just a couple minutes before your meeting to just get the blood pumping. And then reach up to the sky with our hands, open them to the side, how wide and how much space can you take up.

4:09And now we're going to do tiny little circles with our palms. Yeah, that was great. I almost feel like I should start every group meeting, like all together we should do this. Like you're almost going to touch the ceiling. You'll be super present at the meeting. It worked for me.

4:30I feel a lot better having these tips. I mean, I'm already using them, But in all seriousness, it really matters because at this time we can't be together. And if there are little things that we can do to make it feel more real, to make it feel that we're really listening, that we're being present for each other and we're clearly communicating, little things add up and it really matters. At this point in this pandemic, this is the only way we have to connect. And so we have a choice in connecting in a way that is intentional and holistic, both with our verbal and nonverbal communication, or kind of phoning it in, right?

5:07And that choice is yours.

5:25Find power tools and tool sets starting at$50 to help tackle DIY projects, home updates, and more. Whether you're drilling brackets to support new shelving or sharpening your hedge trimmer blade with an angle grinder, The Home Depot has the tools you need to check projects off your list. Shop Labor Day savings at The Home Depot and gear up for fall projects with the right tools to keep your projects moving. Close your eyes, exhale, feel your body relax, and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-CONTACTS.

6:04Oh my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800-CONTACTS.COM today to save on your first order. 1-800-CONTACTS.

6:48Learn more at go.amex.graphite.