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Antonie T. Knoppers

While the purpose of the video call is to close the physical gap between people and boost social interaction, for many, the endless Zoom meetings, virtual team-building events, and video conferences become tiresome, exhausting, and draining, rather than shaking us out of our solitude and filling us with energy (although there certainly are exceptions).So, how can you make your virtual meetings more effective and engaging? What are some easy-to-apply methods to infuse yourself and others with much-needed energy and focus for yet another video call? In our new book Leading with Presence: Fundamental Tools and Insights for Impactful, Engaging Leadership, I, along with my co-authors Milly Obdeijn and Steffen R. Giessner, identify a number of ways to prevent the dreaded Zoom fatigue and re-energize your online meetings. Here we outline five practical solutions:1. Don’t slump.Align yourself while you’re sitting in front of your laptop. The tendency is for many to slump and, as a result, we have terrible posture while working online. Others may read your posture as being non-engaged, non-committed, and non-motivated, which won’t help rally your team or convince an important stakeholder. When presenting in person you wouldn’t slump. Sit up, align your body, keep your neck long and relaxed, and speak with purpose.2. Look into the camera.Want to make someone feel like you’re talking to them? Look into the camera and not at the screen. While this can be a little awkward and takes a while to master, the effects are significant. Looking into your camera emulates eye contact in the virtual realm. While you lose some information because you’re not constantly watching your audience’s reaction, you benefit by forming a stronger connection with your listeners.3. Put your camera at eye level.No one likes looking up your nose or wants to feel that you’re looking down at them, but we see this happen all too often. As well as being visually unflattering, this angled setup hinders your ability to communicate effectively and lessens both your presence and your connection with viewers.4. Animate your face and body.While working online, we tend to have a concentrated, expressionless face. In a setup where we’re basically looking at headshots of each other, the most prominent tools we have to express ourselves are our voices, facial expressions, and gestures, so use them to your advantage. Hold your hands a bit higher than you normally would for them to be in view of the camera. It may feel a little silly at first, but incorporating gestures is an effective tool for better communicating your message and keeping the attention of those you’re speaking with.5. Use your voice optimally.We often forget just how powerful our voices can be and how influential they are when delivering a message. When speaking online, be sure to use vocal variety. For example, slow down your speaking tempo when giving new information, and use the lower register of your voice to convey importance. When we’re nervous or tired we often tend to jump into our higher registers—lower tones are often more convincing. This adjustment can greatly enhance your message, both online and in person.Working remotely and connecting with co-workers online is here to stay, so it’s important to make your online presence more active, engaging, and energetic. After your umpteenth meeting of the day, if you’re having trouble focusing and keeping your energy up, remember: sit upright, align yourself, take deep breaths, and use facial expressions, gestures, and the power of your voice to your advantage. You’ll find that you’ll be conducting a very different meeting.For a deeper dive, join me during the ATD 2022 International Conference & EXPO for the session, “Online Presence: How to Combat Zoom Fatigue."Editor's note: This post is an excerpted from Forbes.

Antonie T. Knoppers

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