I’m Worried About Working Women
Why I fear the promise of remote work combined with unrealistic expectations will erase decades of progress
Full disclosure, during my recent career transition I’ve been able to enjoy a life free from daily video meetings. Instead, I’ve been able to tap into my TV production knowledge to work on improving my video setup for networking and job interviews.
I’ve been blissfully cocooned in my own self-improvement, which probably explains the abrupt transition back to the world of actual remote meetings.
See, I’ve started freelancing for a major broadcaster in their news department. My first chance to “meet” the new team came in the form of a weekly remote story meeting.
Roughly 20 people were on the call. Only four joined with video, including myself.
The meeting ran for an hour and I barely remember anyone. True, this is pretty standard for a first day on the job. But it really bothers me that there were only two standouts - the two men who had their videos on.
I rely a lot on non-verbal communication to learn new things and absorb information. It’s why I’m always doing other things when I listen to a podcast. And in video meetings, I find it very difficult to simply listen to the black box with someone’s intials. Or a profile picture, if they’re trying to make an effort.
I can’t help it. My mind wanders.
I now worry in our post-pandemic work life, success will be determined by who joins meetings with video and who doesn’t.
For women weighed down with unrealistic beauty expectations, this is yet another hurdle. Because now it’s not just our faces on display, but how we manage our homes.
I get the reluctance to go on camera, I really do. But ask yourself, how bad do you really look? The two men on camera in the story meeting had the same casual “at-home” look we’ve all been rocking. One had a beard, the other a baseball cap turned backward. So what’s wrong with your top-knot and unruly eyebrows?
And the guys’ backgrounds? One was in the kitchen, dishes and appliances on the counter, as is the case in most homes. The other guy, sitting in front of a blank white wall (one of my biggest pet peeves, but a rant for another time). Both gave stronger impressions than the blank black boxes on the call.
There are real risks to joining work meetings without video. In my former life as a manager, the senior team would often discuss whether or not Person X was actually attending meetings instead of joining on mute, with no video. We would deliberately call on this person to test that they were actually there.
I am by no means suggesting a Big Brother approach to ensure productivity in hybrid or remote work situations. But there are some easy things you can do today to look and feel better on camera.
If you have the confidence to join meetings on video, it will go a long way to ensure you have a strong presence at work, even from home.
- FACE YOUR BRIGHTEST LIGHT SOURCE
For many people this is direct sunlight coming in from a window. If your desk is portable enough or you work on a laptop, turn your work station so it faces a window. Preferably one that’s large and above ground. Also, one with blinds or curtains. Too much light will wash out your features and can actually hurt the eye to look at.
If space constraints have you working in the basement, you can get a good ring light for not a lot of money. If that’s outside your comfort zone, a desk lamp with a bare bulb can work in a pinch. The only downside is you can’t control the coverage the way you can a ring light. But if the only objective is to make you look “Insta-worthy”, it’s a good start.
2. INCLUDE SOME BACKGROUND, BUT NOT TOO MUCH
If you’re working in the kitchen and can’t face the pressure of keeping countertops clean on top of daily wfh pressures, position your camera so the background shows something else. Maybe you have a glass display cabinet with your fancy dishes? Or maybe you’re in a room with a nice bookshelf? Use that as your background instead. Shooting into a corner goes a long way to create depth and visual interest behind you without showing a lot of space. Play around with your phone and find a wall that works for you.
3. LIVING THINGS MAKE A PLACE FEEL LIVED IN
Put a plant, any plant, behind you. Just make sure it’s positioned to the left or right and not directly behind you. Otherwise it will look like you have a snakeplant growing out of your head.
4. ELEVATE YOUR CAMERA
99% of the time I use a laptop to connect to a video call. 100% of those times I will prop the laptop on a pile of thick books to bring the camera as close to my eyeline as possible. I will even adjust my office chair to the lowest setting to get level with the laptop camera.
This solves two problems: it reduces the universally uncomfortable angle of looking up someone’s nose and it mimics how you would look in an in-person meeting. Remember, you’re not taking a selfie. You’re having a conversation where, in real life, you would be looking out to the other person, so you want to recreate that angle with how you look at your camera
5. CREATE PERSONAL SPACE
This one is a little more abstract. A recruiter once told me to always include your heart in the frame when interviewing for a job. Body language experts say this is key to creating strong, non-verbal connections — you feel like you can connect heart-to-heart.
Tilt the camera down enough to give yourself some head room and include the heart space of your chest.
You may need to sit a bit far from your computer. This might mean you’re not able to type during the meeting. In which case, take notes. A notebook worked fine for me in the beforetimes and it works fine for me know. If you do need to update a computer document in real time during these meetings, see if your employer can set you up with a bluetooth keyboard. Something you can have within arms reach for typing, but still allows you to create personal space on your frame.
For more tips on improving your video call setup follow @mcewenmedia on Instagram
