Trust requires how you show up in person matches who you portray yourself to be virtually.
Showing up consistently is the key to trust. Even online dating has the term “catfish,” defining when the person you meet doesn't look like their profile picture. Have you ever experienced that situation? The inconsistency wasn't catfish dramatic, but enough to be immediately confused upon meeting them. You don't hear a word they say because you keep thinking – are they this out of touch with reality? In no way do they match who they made me think they were.
Think about having the same experience with someone you've worked with virtually. You get to know someone online and create a perception of the person they portray themselves as. Then you are shocked when meeting them in person. Their body language, posture, or hand gestures threw you off. The way they spoke or interacted with others felt disconnected.
Influence requires consistency – no matter the medium. Yet, before attending our workshop, only 57% of participants felt confident in their ability to interact consistently in different settings. That means before training, half of those we asked distracted their listeners by showing up differently in person than online.
In a virtual environment, listeners only see what we show them – confined to a small tile on the screen. In-person, they see it all – our body language, movement of our eyes, posture and gestures.
If you want people to hear and understand your message rather than be distracted by your inconsistency, consider doing these three actions during your virtual calls:
Show Up Consistently
- Stand up and step back from your computer. Let listeners observe your body posture, positioning and hand gestures.
- Keep the camera position level with your eyes so you don't look up or down when speaking.
- Dress for the day. How you prepare for an in-person meeting is how you need to attend a virtual call.
Consider how you show up next time you meet someone virtually. Will their experience meeting you in person mirror that which they see online?
If you want to influence others, show up consistently to earn credibility.
Related: Maintaining Engagement and Accountability with Hybrid Employees