A new survey was designed to understand the impact various standard virtual backgrounds have on one’s perceived intelligence, professionalism, and more. Needless to say, not all backgrounds will invoke the same level of perceived professionalism.
![professional zoom virtual background professional zoom virtual background](https://i2.wp.com/chrismenardtraining.com/_CMT/images/sections/downloads/zoom/static-backgrounds/large/OfficeZoom_0004.jpg)
To create a more professional background in lieu of a traditional workspace, many individuals are using virtual backgrounds on video calls. During this time, video conferences have replaced traditional in-person meetings for many. In recent months, organizations around the globe have adopted remote work policies. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.Of six virtual workspaces, guess which one ranked the highest for professionalism. There’s a time and a place for virtual backgrounds - just not for work.īRAND NEW: Want to learn more about how to adjust your office setup to working remotely? Check out my new LinkedIn Learning course, Organizing Your Remote Office for Maximum Productivity. The virtual backgrounds helped us pretend we were really in Spain, Italy, and France! I love traveling but obviously that’s not an option right now. The theme was a tour of Europe wine and food tasting. I actually used virtual backgrounds for my Zoom birthday party this past weekend. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play around with virtual backgrounds when you’re not working. We’re all learning the etiquette of conducting meetings over video, and your background is an area where you can stand out with your professionalism. That way it’s personal and shows off your personality. I do think virtual backgrounds are lots of fun for happy hours with friends or if you want to show off a place in the world that you’ve actually been. Your aesthetic choices will reflect how you come across to your coworkers and clients.
![professional zoom virtual background professional zoom virtual background](https://logo.com/image-cdn/images/kts928pd/production/963dfa31d36ca2ad8980c07dc4cda9702f801526-1140x620.png)
Remember, your background is representative of you. That could mean a neat office space, a wall with a painting or print, or even a blank wall. I suggest having your background be neutral and intentional. If you’re interested in creating a better workspace at home, you can check my LinkedIn Learning course out for more tips. Having a clean and orderly home office or workspace is one important step you can take to be more productive. If you’re using a virtual background to cover up clutter behind you, how about just clearing up the mess? A neater workspace is conducive to being productive. Take for instance all the press these tech titans got on their backgrounds when they were testifying before Congress. That’s the last thing you want when you’re trying to convey an important message. After all, you’re the main event!Ī virtual background is distracting. Make sure whatever is behind you is enhancing the shot and not distracting attention away from you. Do you want to come off as fake and inauthentic? I didn’t think so.Ī real background makes you seem more professional and trustworthy. But what if you cleaned up that mess instead? Ha – novel idea right?Īnother reason to reconsider virtual backgrounds is that anything in your video is part of your personal branding, including the background behind you. It’s usually just to cover up the mess behind them. But usually that’s not why people are using Zoom backgrounds for video meetings. The weather broadcast background is conveying essential information. Green screens enhance the broadcast.īut even if you did have a green screen to create a high-quality virtual background, ask yourself why you need that background. That’s because most people don’t have the setup that will make them look really great - a green screen! When I was a TV producer, we used green screens in studios for years to do the weather reports because they needed to project graphics behind the weathercaster. Virtual backgrounds might seem like a great trick because people can’t see if your workspace is messy if you’re using them.īut like other work from home shortcuts like the “Zoom Shirt,” virtual backgrounds are actually undermining your productivity and professionalism. One of the students asked me a question about virtual backgrounds so I figured why not also create a blog post about it. In my LinkedIn Learning course, Organizing Your Remote Office for Maximum Productivity, I cover how to look best in video meetings. Now that so many people are having video meetings, lots of questions about virtual etiquette are coming up. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.” So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered.
![professional zoom virtual background professional zoom virtual background](https://wallpaperaccess.com/full/2450977.jpg)
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