Fear of video calls? 7 secrets to overcome it

The fear of video calls goes away with preparation: a fixed spot with good light, the topic reviewed, the tech tested before joining and your eyes on the camera instead of on your own image. Nobody is born knowing how to talk to a webcam; you learn it in a handful of meetings. These are the seven keys that help most.

1. Have a fixed spot for your video calls

Feeling comfortable with the place, the light and the angle you are going to show on camera gives you confidence before you say the first word. Pick a corner at home or in the office and set it up once. We explain how to find it in how to look your best on video calls.

2. Prepare the topic of the meeting

It sounds obvious, but it works: if you know the topic, the words come out on their own. Jot down on paper the points you want to cover and the questions you may be asked, and keep the documents you are going to share open so you do not have to look for them while you talk. That way you avoid going blank and the awkward silences.

3. Test the tech five minutes before

A good part of the nerves comes from what might fail: the microphone, the camera, the meeting link. Join five minutes early, check that you can be seen and heard, and close the tabs and notifications you do not need. With that out of your head, all that is left is the conversation.

4. Wake up your body and your voice

Move around for a few minutes before joining: stretch, walk, gesture and speak out loud. You will come in with more energy and your voice will sound more natural. Keep a glass of water nearby to hydrate your vocal cords.

5. Look at the camera, not at your image

At first we all watch ourselves on the screen to check how we look, and on the other side that comes across as a lack of attention. Look at the lens when you speak and, if seeing yourself distracts you, hide your own preview in the app.

6. Be yourself

Behave as you would in an in-person meeting: breathe, smile and let the conversation flow. You are not sitting an exam and nobody is grading you; your counterparts probably have the same reservations as you. With practice you get into the rhythm and even enjoy it.

7. Close with a contact exchange

Many meetings end without anyone knowing how to stay in touch. Before saying goodbye, share your digital business card in the video call chat: the other person saves your phone, email and links with one tap, without typing anything. If you are part of a sales team, the administrator keeps everyone's cards up to date from a single dashboard, so you always share the right details.