This article is written by Daisy Ireton, campaigns and communications associate at Apolitical

Effective communication is a key skill that employers look for when hiring, and it can be a great way to promote yourself. It’s not easy but it is a skill —and, like any skill, it can be practised and improved.

When you communicate with others, whether it is face-to-face or virtually, you’re actually having two conversations: one verbal and one non-verbal. These two conversations should align so that your words match your body language.

The recent switch to the virtual workplace has created a big change in the way we are able to give and observe non-verbal cues. When we don’t have these cues to help us validate what our counterparts are saying, our brains have to work overtime to fill in the blanks, contributing to the much-loathed Zoom fatigue.

In this article, we’ll share five tips for better body language as presented by Carol Kinsey Goman, Amran Jama and Peter Constantinou in an online workshop we ran in October.

1. FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT. REALLY.

When it comes to virtual interactions, it is important to set the standard up front when it comes to having cameras on or off. Whilst it can be exhausting to be on camera all day, where at all possible, you should have your camera on. You can’t have presence unless you’re present. If you’re unable to have your camera on for whatever reason, you should have a picture of yourself as your icon so people can see your face and feel that they’re connecting with you.

When you’re on camera it is critical that you give a good first impression. When you meet people face-to-face, you have seven seconds to make a first impression. When you’re on camera, you have just a fraction of that. During this time people will make judgements about our trustworthiness, likability, confidence and much more. To make the most of your first impression, always start with a smile (unless you’re delivering bad news). Make sure you’re smiling before the call has connected to ensure that you’re smiling the minute you are on screen.

2. MAKE EYE CONTACT

Another crucial thing to remember when you’re on camera is to look directly into the camera when you’re speaking to people, so it appears as though you’re giving them direct eye contact. Putting a smiley sticker next to your camera will remind you that there are people on the other end of the camera with whom you want to make a human connection.

You’ll need to balance looking directly at the camera and observing others for non-verbal cues by dropping your eye contact when they are speaking. You can also drop your eye contact when taking notes, although you should try to avoid letting people just see the top of your head for the whole call. Remember to look up occasionally to show them that you’re actively listening. If possible, use a split screen on your desktop to take notes so that you can still have your face on camera.

3. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR POSTURE

Your posture is one of the most important things you can control to project a certain image of ourselves. You want to look as competent and confident as possible when on virtual calls and your posture is a great way to convey this. Expand your posture by sitting up tall with your shoulders back to make yourself look more grounded. You should avoid slouching at all costs, as this impacts not only your appearance but also your mood. When you feel bad or are having a bad day your body naturally shrinks in on itself; but when you do so it can actually generate corresponding lower emotions. Conversely, when you sit up straight, you start to feel better.

4. USE GESTURES TO REINFORCE YOUR MESSAGE

Humans use gestures all the time to reinforce what they're saying. When you’re on camera ensure that you frame yourself so that as much of your body as possible can be seen. Back up your chair or even stand if appropriate and bring your gestures closer into your body so people can still see them. Using gestures is a great way to help your audience understand what you’re saying, so do not be afraid to use them!

As well as using your own body language effectively, you want to be able to read that of others. One of the biggest mistakes people make when they read body language is that they think they are mind-reading. Don’t assume from the expression on people’s faces that you know what is behind that. Remind yourself that when you see a scowl or a frown, it is not necessarily about you - stay open and curious about what might be the cause of this.

5. READ THE ROOM

When you’re meeting with people either online or in person, one of the most important things you can do is observe what is happening in the room. When you’re with others, look around, notice whether the speaker is looking at particular people, how people are reacting. Are others in the room looking at each other? Are they distracted? How are people sitting? Are they tilting their heads?

Once you’ve collected this data, think strategically about what it is telling you. Where there are changes there might be insights — are they upset, angry, confused? Take this information and then change the course of your actions, and adapt how you proceed accordingly. Will I ask that question? Do I make that point? By investing in this skill you can make better decisions about the direction you’re going in and interact in a more meaningful way with the world around you. — Daisy Ireton

With special thanks to our speakers. You can watch the full recording of the workshop here.

(Picture credit: Unsplash)