Speaking on Skype? How to pull off a successful video chat

Video chat comes with its own set of rules and etiquette that parallel public speaking rules in some ways, and are completely unique in other ways. Here are a couple of tips to help you make the most of your next video chat.

1. Look at the camera, not the screen.

This one is really hard, because we want to look into the face of the person we’re speaking with. But if you look at your computer screen, you’re not actually looking into the person’s eyes. You are looking somewhere below them (assuming your camera is placed or embedded above your monitor). Looking into the camera ensures you are making eye contact, even though it doesn’t feel like it on your end.

A client’s solution is to put a little sticker or a picture of a face next to the camera so she remembers to look there.

2. Dress appropriately.

We’ve all seen the videos online of people who were dressed appropriately from the waist up and had to suddenly get up from the call, revealing undergarments or pajamas from the waist down. This video is particularly funny, although I’m pretty sure it’s a PSA and not a real event.