Now accepting regular, original, natural backgrounds in video calls.
Customer facing roles must remove the virtual background.
What about roles that are non-customer facing ? Should they also care about the background in a video call ?
There is nothing wrong with virtual backgrounds. On the other hand, a regular background in virtual calls can go a distance for sales and other customer facing roles.
1. People buy from people. Show that you are human.
– A background with plants or other items from nature indicate your love for nature. You are human.
– Quality of the plant does not matter. Any plant will do.
2. You enjoy the workplace and are passionate about it. People like to work with people who are passionate.
3. Tidy Background
Tidy background signals that this person and company will deliver and be organized.
4. Are you a winner ?
Customers/prospects want to work with people who are accomplished. It helps build trust, gives them confidence. One indirect way to show them is your workplace certificate. If you do not have those, any sports or academia will do equally good.
I put a karate trophy on for many years.
5. Should non-customer-facing roles care about it ?
Well, you should if you are passionate, ambitious and motivated to grow. Remember, everyone including your supervisor, colleagues are evaluating you.
What is a good item for the background in video calls ?
1. Books
2. Plants
3. Subtle art piece (that are not controversial)
4. A sports person from the area that you love or your customer love
5. A trophy that you won or your daughter /son won
6. A graduation ceremony photo
7. A family photo
What is one item that you have put this week in your ‘real’ background ?
