Don't Be a Cat: Putting on Your Best Virtual Face

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many people out of the office and into work-from-home setups. Use of video conferencing platforms, especially Zoom, skyrocketed during 2020 as meetings, presentations, and interviews started having to take place online. Virtual presence has become critical to professional success, but all too many people have made errors ranging from the silly to the disastrous in trying to adjust to virtual work. This technical note explores best practices for achieving success in virtual presence and virtual presentations. From testing your technology to optimizing your background, adjusting your expression and tone for video presentations, and engaging with your audience, it will help you bring your best self to Zoom meetings and beyond.