Video calling while working from home is a new experience for most people. I spoke to a few people who use videos every day to communicate – the Influencers. Their big tip: “Think like a Vlogger”.
Think Like a Vlogger While Video Calling
I asked a friend who creates video blogs and hence is a vlogger. Many of us now need to use video calling to stay connected to work. Here is what he said, “Who knows video calling better than a vlogger? They use their videos to capture the attention of millions of viewers. When you are video calling your colleagues, you are using the same medium of the video. It is the new medium you are using to share your ideas. It is your new medium to influence the world. So think like a vlogger.”
Visually Clear
Martin Sorrell talks about the average Facebook video being watched for less than 2 seconds. In a world of shrinking attention spans, vloggers remove everything that distracts the viewer.
Pay attention to the books and posters that show up when it is your turn to speak. Avoid walking around while video calling your colleagues or work partners. Several freelancers dress in work wear (here’s why) and observe strict work timings. That is a great practice.
3 Barriers Freelancers have to overcome
Video Calling Is a Sound Strategy
Imagine watching a movie in a theater where there is a howling infant. It is distressing for the parent and makes it hard for others to concentrate on the movie. Video calling works on the same principles. Mute your mic if you are not speaking. A background with crying kids, blaring music played by your room mate, traffic sounds etc can make it hard for others to tune in. Tip: Closing the windows and drawing the curtains can improve the sound quality.
Best tips when you are working from home
Socializing Like a Vlogger
Most people have not had to worry about the basic tech infra at home. Video calling needs a certain bandwidth. Investing in a high speed connection is recommended. The high speed connection at home can improve the experience of video calling for work.
Socialize like a vlogger. They engage with viewers for their “work” and also take time to build a fairly personal relationship with the viewers. That maybe a skill worth learning. Spend some time “socializing” with your colleagues. Video calling can stop you from feeling isolated and lonely.
Work in Progress
Think about working from home as the new normal. Thinking like a vlogger can give you a headstart on how to adapt your work to the new environment. Even in this crisis there is a silver lining. People who have undertaken long commutes can sleep a bit longer.
Employees complain about not having time to upskill them selves. This maybe the time to take that online course. It is an opportunity to upskill yourself and build new skills.
People look forward to the weekend when they can unwind, read a book and share a meal with their loved ones. All that is a daily possibility as most of us now stay quarantined.
Every crisis has an opportunity built in. And who knows, you may become the next vlogging sensation.
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A version of this was published on my Times of India and Economic Times blog
1 Comment
[…] Kavi Arasu, an expert in organisational effectiveness and learning design, says, “Instead of re-imagining work in this new setting, we simply assume that the same work is happening in a different location — the home.”“Speaking to a zoom camera does not turn it into a webinar. Familiarity with PowerPoint is not the same as facilitating learning. Dumping endless hours of meaningless webinars onto the employee is not going to get them up skilled. Learning has to be re-imagined for this new medium. The classroom has moved”, says Kavi.1. The learner has millions of choices: An employee attending an online course at home is not the same as the employee attending a training programme in the office. Binge-watching slickly-produced serials and movies has refined our standards. Sandhya, employee of an audit firm, says, “The office meeting or online course has to be better than the Netflix movie I could watch instead.”Employees are anxious about their future. That needs to be addressed by the head of the business. Learning is a social experience. Online courses must provide that.2. Communicating through video – a new competency: Most online classes are excruciatingly boring because they have the speaker continue for long stretches without involving participants. This can be done through polls, parallel chats, drawings, videos, quizzes, built in every few minutes. It is hard for the speaker to see the facial expressions of the learner. That is essential to build engagement.If the video experience is not at par with a TED talk, the participants will switch off faster than you think. Learning & Development teams must teach managers how to conduct reviews and give feedback on video, teaching online class and even tell them how long a virtual meeting can go before fatigue sets in. It will help people learn that every meeting does not have to be done through video.Read: How to think like a vlogger on Video Calls […]