Maximize Your Virtual Meeting Impact

---

Remember those carefree days of Zooming the freeways with a smile on your face, top-down, wind in your hair, and off on some grand adventure?

Nowadays, the word Zoom elicits more of a tired sigh than a sense of adventure.

We’re all in the same boat—virtual meetings have become a necessary but often draining part of
your work life.

Given the significant role these digital meetings now play in your professional career, it’s clear-
cut that improving your virtual presence is essential for career success.

How would you rate yourself on the following four virtual meeting practices?

Turn On For Success: Current studies show that virtual meetings consume a significant portion
of your workday, with a third of Americans attending them four to 12 hours a week. And it’s a
mixed bag with 46 percent of all meetings being hybrid… with some employees in the same room
and others dialing in remotely^.1

Vyopta’s research found that 93% of executives say employees who turn their cameras off are
generally less engaged. When bosses see your static picture on the screen, they also suspect
you’re browsing the internet, posting on social media, texting, or watching Instagram or
YouTube videos^{. 2}

Savvy executives know this and turn their screens on!

Clean Up For Success: Your physical workspace speaks volumes about your professionalism.
Confidence in your job performance dwindles when you have a cluttered desk.  

Think not? One in ten bosses admit that a messy desk is reason enough not to promote an
employee^{, 3}  as they perceive the individual’s disorganization signals that they’re overwhelmed
with their current position.

Remember, what appears behind you on-screen is not just a backdrop. It’s your virtual office, an
extension of your professional image and performance. Like your physical workspace, a clean
and organized virtual environment can significantly influence how others perceive you.

You might not believe this will impact others’ perception of you—think again.

During a meeting, I noticed disarray behind a client and suggested tidying up. Vivian had been
unaware of the impression she was making and took the advice to heart. The next day, a
prominent client in a virtual meeting immediately noticed, “You’ve made some changes. It’s
impressive.”

Pause for a moment to reflect on your environment’s potential impact. Then, shape how you
want leaders and clients to assess you.

Seated For Success: Pay attention to your posture, lighting, and chair positioning during virtual
meetings.

While attending a virtual meeting, I observed a stark contrast in virtual presence. Two top-
ranking executives, with their well-lit faces and bodies squared to the camera. The two others
were poorly lit and slumped in the bottom portion of the screen. It was easy to identify leadership
presence—even without titles!  

If others' view of you is in the lower third of the screen, set your chair for two heights: one that
supports your computer, writing, and reading work responsibilities and the other intended to
support your executive presence for virtual meetings. 

Are you not able to adjust your chair? Invest in one that supports a commanding presence for on-
camera interactions.

Dress For Success: Don’t underestimate the power of dressing for success, even in a virtual
setting. Your company’s cultural office dress expectations should still be upheld, even when
you’re working from home.

Remember, your appearance in virtual meetings can directly influence how others perceive you
and potentially impact your career advancement.

Dress slightly better than your counterparts when attending a virtual meeting. Appearance
matters, especially when you’re on-camera.

This advice is particularly relevant given company leader’s detrimental view of remote workers.
You want to stand out as excellent. 

Citrix reports that Half of all business leaders believe that when employees are working “out of
sight,” they don’t work as hard^{. 4} The Resumebuilders.com research reveals remote workers were
24% less likely to receive promotions compared to their in-office colleagues^{. 5}

This underscores the importance of maintaining a professional appearance in virtual meetings, as
it can significantly influence your career trajectory.

These four virtual meeting practices may seem trivial, but they’re an opportunity to not only
showcase your professionalism and commitment to your current and future role but also to
accelerate your career growth. Seemingly small details like your appearance and surroundings
can meaningfully impact how clients, peers, and leaders perceive you, potentially opening doors
to new prospects and advancements.

Are you ready to “Maximize Your Virtual Meeting Impact” for your long-term success? It’s time
to elevate your executive presence in the digital realm.

¹https://www.switchboard.app/learn/article/meeting-statistics-2024
²IBID
³https://palife.co.uk/news/a-messy-desk-could-limit-your-career-potential/
⁴https://www.forbes.com/sites/glebtsipursky/2022/11/03/workers-are-less-productive-working-remotely-at-least-thats-what-their-bosses-think/?sh=1f3e7aaa286a
⁵https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/employee-engagement/remote-workers-less-likely-to-get-raises-promotion-at work/471645#:~:text=In%20a%20recent%20survey%20conducted,whose%20jobs%20allowed%20remote%20work

---