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SERMC Contact: Tad Hunt (402) 219-7378 thunt@stez.org SKC Contact: (800) 882-7779 contact.us@skccom.com 18
Tips for Effective Video Conferences
Maintain Appropriate On-Camera Positioning
Position yourself on-camera according to the elbows and wrists rule: when you stretch out your arms, the
edge of the screen falls between your elbows and wrists. Use close-up shots judiciously, especially when
participants are not used to videoconferencing. It is important that partcipants see you or another speaker’s
facial expressions, but remember that the camera is sensitive to movement and will exaggerate blinking eyes,
moving hands, or shifting in chairs. In small group conferencing, try to include all participants in the shot. Set
up camera presets so that you can zoom in on the main speaker or pan to each person when needed. In a
large group, you may want to set presets for various areas within the room as well as a group shot and a close-
up of the facilitator. If you plan to have a formal Question and Answer segment, use tape or designate specific
seats and make a camera preset for them.
Demonstrate Enthusiasm Toward the Subject Matter
Videoconferencing participants will find it difficult to pay attention if the subject is not presented in an
interesting way or if the facilitator is tense or bored. Get beyond the “talking head” model and make the
session as interactive as possible. Start off by asking questions that promote a group response. Use a
participant map to specifically address your assosciates or other participants. After the first few minutes, they
will forget the technology and focus on the subject.
Speak in a Strong, Clear Voice
Take advantage of the system to communicate naturally, using inflection and body language. It’s not
necessary to yell. It is even more important than usual to wait for the other person to finish speaking. Things
can get really confusing if there are multiple participants all speaking at once. You may need a facilitator or
some pre-designated plan for controlling who has the microphone. Other particpants should mute their local
microphones when they don’t expect to be speaking. Don’t forget that remote participants can still hear
everything until the call is completely disconnected!