Organize and Optimize your Work Environment
You may have spent many years and hours at the same desk or same office environment. It makes sense to create a space that is most beneficial for optional creativity. Whether your style is trendy, traditional, sports, or themed, the benefits of a well-crafted workspace contribute to your psychological wellbeing.
In designing your workspace pay attention to sharp corners and edges on furniture, preferably, they should be curved rather than sharp. For practicality, there is less risk to harm oneself on sharp corners.
Color and lighting schemes are also essential considerations. Color can help reduce eye strain therefore installing a lighting system that allows you to brighten or dim the room is highly recommended and worth the investment.
“Research has found that color can impact people in a variety of surprising ways. One study found that warm-colored placebo pills, were reported as more effective than cool-colored placebo pills”.
Dress for Success for Your Online Meeting
Keep a nice white shirt, tie, and/or blouse nearby to slip into for that sales call or special meeting. In these COVID times, it is often easy to forget that you are not in your office and are working at the kitchen table or still in your PJ’s keeping your camera off.
The Backdrop
The backdrop behind you often tells your views what you like or don’t like. Even political views that can affect the outcome of your call. People will spend the entire call trying to enlarge the books on the shelf behind you to determine what you read and who helps shape your life. They will see pictures of family and friends.
Why Use a Green Screen?
When working remotely your workspace background speaks volumes. A green screen is an essential tool to disguise the imperfections of your surroundings.
They are inexpensive and easy to assemble and while there are many different vendors to choose from, we prefer and recommend the green screens from Lollipop Signs. Once set-up, virtual background options are endless; you can choose from a variety of pictures or themes such as famous landmarks, trees, mountains, seascapes or you may upload your company logo. Work colleagues can then select a uniform background for display when hosting or attending virtual meetings. Providing a simple uniform corporate backdrop will help keep the viewers focused on you.
Here are some tips for presenting with a Green Screen
Do not set up your screen in front of a window, as sunlight will shine through and make your background uneven. Ideally, set the screen in front of a wall or a closed door, so random lighting will not illuminate your presentation.
Please make arrangements for your four-legged friends so they are taken care of during your portion of the meeting. The same goes for spouses and children!
If possible, please set up your screen the night before the presentation to give the fabric time to “release” excess wrinkles. Please do not wait until just before your presentation is scheduled, it takes a few minutes to set up the screen properly.
Stretch the screen as tightly as possible to eliminate wrinkles, as these may show up during your presentation.
This might seem obvious, but please NO NOT wear anything GREEN when presenting. Your body will disappear and become a talking head!
Lighting
A professional halo light will help with a multitude of colors and reflections on your face; not too red, dark, or shiny. Also, it is not uncommon to have a little bit of makeup to dull your skin tone if your skin appears a little shiny.
Have fun creating your personalized workspace!