Crush Your Next Zoom Call with CEO-level Presence!

Key Concepts

• Proxmics: The study of distances and how they affect communication and comfort levels.
• Intimate Space: The closest proximity, generally reserved for intimate relationships.
• Personal Space: A closer proximity, within arm's reach, that can make people uncomfortable in professional settings.
• Social Space: A further distance that creates a comfortable and professional environment.
• Visual Presence: How you appear on camera, including framing, lighting, and camera quality.
• Vocal Presence: Using vocal techniques to engage and influence your audience.
• Energy Levels: The level of enthusiasm and dynamism you project, which needs to be amplified in virtual settings.
• Production Quality: The overall quality of your video and audio setup, including camera, lighting, and microphone.

Proxmics and Establishing Comfortable Distances on Zoom

The speaker, Vin Jang, emphasizes the importance of understanding proxemics in virtual communication. He demonstrates how appearing too close to the camera mimics being in someone's intimate or personal space, creating discomfort.

• Intimate Space Example: Vin Jang gets very close to a volunteer, Dan, on camera, simulating the feeling of someone invading personal space. Dan's reaction of stepping back illustrates the discomfort this creates.
• Personal Space Example: Vin Jang stands within arm's reach of Dan, still too close for comfort in a professional setting.
• Social Space Solution: Vin Jang recommends positioning the camera further away to capture from the belly button to just above the head. This creates a social space, making viewers feel more comfortable.
• Hand Gestures: Maintaining social space allows for hand gestures to be visible, enhancing visual presence and engagement. "Oh, hey. Oh my goodness. So good to see you."

Enhancing Visual and Vocal Presence

Vin Jang highlights the need to actively cultivate both visual and vocal presence on Zoom.

• Visual Presence: Achieved through proper camera placement, good lighting, and a high-quality camera.
• Vocal Presence: Achieved by using a good microphone and employing vocal techniques to maintain energy and engagement.
• Energy Level Adjustment: Because speaking to a camera reduces energy levels by approximately 70%, it's crucial to consciously amplify your energy to maintain audience engagement. It will feel unnatural, but it is necessary.
• Example: Vin Jang exaggerates his enthusiasm to demonstrate the level of energy needed to be effective online. "Oh my god, so good to see you all. I'm so excited because I've got 20,000 people on the the webinar."

Improving Production Quality to Enhance Perceived Value

Vin Jang argues that production quality significantly impacts how your expertise is perceived.

• The Perception Problem: If your expertise is a "10 out of 10" but your communication skills are a "3 out of 10," people will initially perceive you as a "3."
• Production Quality as a Solution: Investing in a better camera, good lighting, and a quality microphone elevates your production value to a "10 out of 10," creating a positive first impression.
• Impact on Overall Perception: When your production quality is high, and your content is valuable, people are "wowed" by your overall presentation.

Step-by-Step Improvement Process

Vin Jang outlines a clear process for improving your online presence:

1. Camera Placement: Position the camera further away to create social space (belly button to just above the head).
2. Microphone: Use a good quality microphone to ensure clear audio.
3. Lighting: Ensure you are well-lit to improve visual clarity.
4. Camera Quality: Invest in a better quality camera for a sharper image.
5. Energy Levels: Consciously increase your energy levels to compensate for the lack of in-person interaction.

Conclusion

Establishing executive presence on Zoom requires a conscious effort to understand and apply principles of proxemics, visual and vocal presence, and production quality. By creating a comfortable viewing environment, projecting energy, and investing in quality equipment, professionals can significantly enhance their impact and influence in virtual communication. The key takeaway is that online communication requires deliberate action to overcome the inherent limitations of the medium and project a confident, credible image.