Video conference in front of a white wall? bad idea
The living room, soft focus, and the virtual world: the background against which people present themselves in digital meetings affects how others judge them. Which drives are recommended and which are sensitive.
Taking good care of potted plants, when visible in the background, gives the speaker an aura of trustworthiness and competence.
Photo: Getty Images
What revelations were revealed when all office workers moved to hastily set up home offices during the pandemic? Suddenly dignitaries, presidents and distinguished colleagues appeared in front of the screens in all their home privacy. In the background are curtains with striking patterns, cat scratching posts or notice boards with yellow bits of paper. This may seem impressive at first glance. But in the long term? Especially in a professional context? Does the visual background in video conferences influence the decisions of clients, HR departments, or even judges? Researchers are slowly beginning to pay attention to these questions. Knowledge is still incomplete and uncertain, but there are some clues.
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