“How do you create a professional background for online meetings?” – this question has been asked of me many times as a speaker and public speaking expert for the digital stage.
In the following sections, you will learn about 4 crucial factors for creating the right background for an online meeting and thus making your online charisma shine:
I recommend a neutral, solid-colored background that doesn't distract from you.
In a survey I conducted on LinkedIn, 61% of respondents indicated they prefer exactly this kind of neutral, non-distracting background.
Your clothing should be a complementary color to the background. White wall – dark clothing, and dark wall – light clothing. You almost certainly have a white wall somewhere.
In online meetings or presentations, I often see objects and motifs in the background that don't harmonize with the topic of conversation or presentation. For example, you often see overflowing bookshelves. This distracts from the flow of the conversation and the participant. The other person is more preoccupied with the details in the background than with listening. As a result, important information is sometimes lost.
With a perfectly chosen background, you prepare your audience for the content and focus their attention on the essential core message.
You can also subtly display one or two objects that underscore your personality, such as your favorite book, a family photo, or a picture. These can create a welcoming atmosphere and stimulate conversation. For example, I sometimes show a lamp in the background that casts a warm, inviting light, or a medal from a public speaking competition.
But be aware: the objects you display in your background always reflect back to you. Your audience will be engaging with them. Choose your belongings carefully, as they are strongly perceived by the person you are speaking to and say a lot about you.
Virtual backgrounds, such as a rotating globe or the Golden Gate Bridge, are often used in online conferences to attract attention. However, they also distract far too much from you as the conversation partner. Furthermore, many people don't realize that a green screen is needed for a virtual background to look professional.
In a LinkedIn survey, 30% of respondents indicated a preference for virtual backgrounds, but only 13% of them use a green screen technique. The problem: without a professional green screen, body contours disappear into the virtual background. This looks strange and irritating.
If you want to use a virtual background, work with a green screen as your backdrop. You can animate the green background of a green screen perfectly as a virtual image. It's important that this image never matches the color of the screen. I've recorded many videos with a green wall behind me. Afterwards, I was able to replace this green wall with any image I wanted.
Portable green screens or monochrome roll-up banners in gold, silver, blue, or white are available, which you can quickly and easily use anywhere. This makes them an excellent solution for business trips.
Recently, during one of my "Rock the Digital Stage" training sessions, the question came up: "Ms. Bauer, what do you think of these milky backgrounds?"
This refers to backgrounds that are blurred or softened. This can easily be selected in the video settings of video conferencing platforms like Zoom. This background setting is usually chosen when the room is full of furniture or rather busy. Here, too, body contours tend to disappear into the background. I recommend finding a neutral, solid-colored wall in the room and using that as your background. If such a wall isn't available, then this softened background is a last resort.
Conclusion: You, as the speaker, are the focus, not your background. Set up a neutral, plain-colored background that doesn't distract from you.
One or two special items or a beautiful lamp can add a personal touch and create a welcoming atmosphere. But they shouldn't distract from you.
A neutral and monochrome background can easily be created in any room, or a portable monochrome roll-up banner can help you in an emergency.
You want to boost your online charisma and shine professionally in video meetings and webinars? Feel free to contact me. I offer one-on-one and group training and also love to inspire with keynote speeches.
Warm regards
Danja Bauer
