Working From Home-What Do I Wear?

 We have become veterans at working from home these past two years.  We have learned to multi-task, new processes, creating virtual file folders, and working from home did not necessarily mean working shorter hours.  In fact, most people I speak with are working longer hours-even though they are not commuting to their office.  You got this?  From the views of some of the attendees on my earlier Zoom meetings I hope they have changed the way they look.  I was really taken back seeing people in robes and pajamas during board meetings.  To this day, there are a majority of the people in these meetings  virtually in the dark.  They simply do not want to be seen-there names appear under a little black box.  

During a recent conversation with a local business manager I was told she was on many internal business conference calls-practically every day-and was struggling to manage her employees.  At their company, all attendees have to have their camera on...something about their newly formed company policy since they weren't meeting in person during COVID.  One Monday morning, the attendees were viewing a bathroom scene-akin to Psycho (the 1960 black and white Alfred Hitchcock movie)-shower curtain, large mirror, and nude female. You get the picture-I know I had an immediate mental image.  Only difference between the movie and the meeting-it was REAL!  During the meeting a mass email went out to all employees with yet another newly created company policy-the verbiage had more legal ease but the gist of the policy-if anyone made any portion of  any of  the company meetings public, there would be severe legal consequences and immediate termination.

Virtual meetings show a portion of you.  Wear your pajama bottoms if you must but, your audience does not want to see you in your birthday suit or bedtime attire.  Your picture, your image, your projection of dialogue and voice are important and rather significant to the rest of us. To some-this is the future of communications.  We will continue to work from home. Think about how you look to your audience; especially, now that we are choosing a hybrid of working.  A few days in the office-a few days from home.  Whether you are on camera or in person your image is important.  Your co-workers, business partners, and family and friends depend on you to complete the team.  Look in your mirror-for the second time-before you start your day.  Set the pace for your viewers-the audience will be glad you did.