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Top excuses for not using video in web conferences

avoiding meetings

We’ve heard them all. Every possible excuse for not turning your camera on during video conferences. You want to stay in your safe place of audio conferencing and screen sharing. We get that. But, here’s the thing: everything is better with video. So, as a public service announcement, Zoom’s here to breakdown and debunk the top excuses we’ve heard against using video:

“I haven’t done my hair,” “I don’t feel like getting dressed up,” and so forth.

With regards to your general attractiveness, let’s just state the obvious: the people you work with already know what you look like. Seeing you looking slightly unkempt isn’t going to make them suddenly think, “Man, Dave looks a little rumpled…let’s take him off that big project!” And if you’re so worried about impressing the people on the other end of the call, take two minutes to run a comb through your hair, throw on a little blush, and change your shirt. You can probably even keep your sweatpants and flip flops on—we won’t tell!

“The lighting is terrible in here.”

You’re probably right. If you’re back lit or harshly lit, or the room is too dark or bright, your lighting probably is terrible. But, great news: you can fix that! In general, you need to remember to face the light source in your room. If the light is behind you, you’ll just be a silhouette. You should also close your blinds or hang a window covering. It’s better to use a controlled artificial light source than natural light, which is constantly changing over the course of the day. If you want to go further with your quest for perfect lighting, you can also follow our in-depth lighting guide.

“No one else is on video. Why bother?”

We suggest you try something new that could improve your communication and collaboration experiences. Be a leader. Be an early adopter. Try video. And, there are some real benefits to being on video:

  • You can express yourself fully. You may not realize it, but you rely on your facial expressions and body language to convey your meaning. People know you’re joking by your smile or that you’re concerned by the way you’re crossing your arms and furrowing your brow. Communicating by audio alone is like trying to tell a sarcastic joke via text, it’s not always going to work. So, use video to make it easier on yourself and your participants to understand the meaning behind your words.
  • It helps build relationships. Letting someone, such as a new customer, see your face is a great way to let them see that you’re a real human being, not some disembodied voice. This makes them more inclined to like and trust you.

Still a little nervous about video? You can get your feet wet with a live one-on-one demo with a Zoom expert. Sign up today!

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