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Zoom video calls have become a normal occurrence while working remotely in Coronavirus isolation.

We have become accustomed to finding Zoom backgrounds and creating Zoom meeting themes. But, it’s been hard to define what is professional during a meeting when most people haven’t done this before.

When you’re used to meeting in a conference room or a straight-backed desk, you might forget how to duplicate that same environment in your home.

Some of the guidelines to a professional video call might seem like common sense, but that doesn’t mean you know how to accomplish it. We thought we’d know not to take a Zoom video meeting into the bathroom but we’ve had a viral instance of that so far during Coronavirus isolation.

There are so many ways to brighten up your Zoom meetings, like making themes or fun backgrounds for your meetings. Keeping them professional will help with keeping things fun and light between your coworkers until you can be in your professional environment again.

Here are a few ways that are keeping you from looking professional while in your Zoom meeting.

Having a messy or distracting background

When you’re on a video conference, you want the focus to be on you, rather than your background. More importantly, you want the focus to be on your topic of conversation and not on what’s going on behind you.

You can do two things to avoid professionalism-faux pas.

One of the easiest ways to focus the attention back on yourself is to place yourself in front of a blank or minimally decorated wall. If you don’t have anything to focus on, your group has no choice but to focus on you.

However, I would also suggest investing in a zoom background. We’re always changing themes throughout biweekly meetings, so these can change fairly easily and frequently. You might still need a fairly static or blank background to make the virtual background to work on your screen.

Try to focus on the people involved in the conversation and the topic of the meeting. By minimizing the distractions behind you, you’ll be able to have a more productive meeting.

Moving around unnecessarily

Like a distracting background, you should be focused and centered on your Zoom meeting. Moving around should not distract from the focus of your meeting.

You might have multiple things going on in addition to your Zoom meeting, like educating children and having new coworkers with your spouses and pets.

Movement is bound to happen. You should avoid moving unnecessarily, however. Moving across rooms or across your apartment or house is a big no-no. Don’t be the new bathroom user during a Zoom meeting to go viral.

Try to position yourself in a set spot, whether for the meeting or as you remotely work from home. Even when you have a bit of extra movement, you won’t be as distracting compared to moving around your home.

Having miscellaneous conversations

Again, family and pets are to be expected to make an appearance on Zoom video calls. They are a part of your life, but not part of your professional one.

The mute button is a highly useful one in Zoom videos. Especially when you have a lot going on in your home.

Most animals like to make themselves known in Zoom meetings and sometimes you won’t be able to arrange your schedule at the convenience of your family members. If you have a lot of commotion around you, you might need to find your own space away from everything during your meeting.

You shouldn’t have to be talking over anything or anyone during your meeting. This Zoom meeting should replicate a meeting in your work building, so you should treat it as one.

Lounging in bed or reclining

Reclining and lounging while on a Zoom video call is extremely unflattering. It causes you to look down and move around unnecessarily and makes you seem unprofessional.

You don’t need to forsake comfort while you are on a Zoom call but you shouldn’t make it your priority either.

Just like when you are in the office, you should have a professional and stable spot while on a Zoom call meeting. Sticking your camera to a tabletop or desk is the best way to keep your video call steady compared to rolling around on your bed, couch, or recliner.

Your bed is too casual for your meeting. It shouldn’t be your meeting place go-to. You should make it a priority to find a desk or straight-backed chair to keep your posture at attention while you’re on video.

Not looking ‘put-together’

During quarantine isolation, you have probably become very comfortable in your loungewear and t-shirts. By no means do you need to get dressed to the nines whenever you have a Zoom call, but you should be put together to an extent that it doesn’t appear that you just rolled out of your bed.

You might not want to put makeup or put on dress shirts or dresses. That’s completely fine. You should be prepared to be put together from the waist up, at least.

Remember your basic personal care routine. That means: brush your hair, brush your teeth, shower routinely before meetings.

You don’t have to be as professional as you would be at the office, but you should be able to go out safely in the outfit that you wear on your Zoom call.

Being professional in a normal environment is on everyone’s minds wish list for the foreseeable future. It’s been difficult to manage multiple areas of our lives in the confines of our homes. Bringing a bit of professionalism back into our workspaces will help everyone stay calm and collected as we learn and acclimate to Zoom calls.

Are you needing more tips on creating a professional work experience, whether from your home or from your office space? Join my e-newsletter for tips and ideas to incorporate into your professional life.