Two-Thirds Misguided Domineering

A UK survey from a gambling focused marketing outfit gained the desired PR near the start of Feb looking at our secret Zoom tactics.

Among the pyjama bottoms, parallel work-multitasking and pretending to be busier confessions, was this reveal;

Two-thirds of Britons surveyed admit setting their laptop camera at an angle to make them look more domineering in business meetings.

Whilst unclear precisely at what angle such a setting is, the inference is that it imposes a feeling of being looked down upon by your fellow participants.

Leaving aside the nostril cam, background obscuring and personal space invasion unpleasantness such positioning can evoke, there is a reason for the long-held mantra among the broadcast pros that when it comes to camera placement, the higher the better.

Maybe the admittance says more about modern day office politics than collaborative video call etiquette.

By coincidence, the stock image used (as seen above) 'stages' a Zoom call where the under-utilised device of stacking a book to raise the level of your webcam is in play. Could've done with an extra book or two, mind.

This offers an interesting glimpse into twenty-five participants. Too many for a call of purpose, yes, but thankfully nowhere near ⅔ chose to be 'domineering'.

Another strange finding from the supposedly two thousand respondents, was that;

'86 per cent admit to thinking carefully about their onscreen backdrop and decor'.

I have seen countless people over video. There's a difference between thinking about it and actually being able to do something significant about it. But at least thinking should be encouraged.

The look of a hostage video, kitchen cabinets or even toddler's wallpaper can all be fine dependent upon who you're meeting with. Giving people a close-up with of your chin though, is never good.