I had conversations about stagecraft back during lockdown with clients often.

But now that more people are hybrid or back in the office I’ve noticed slippage.

I’m here to remind you that how you show up on camera matters. I understand I have full on studio equipment and broadcast quality streaming that I use for online, virtual speaking engagements and remote TV appearances. You say, “but I’m an executive!“

Let me tell you: how you stage your shot on WebEx, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or whatever can create opportunity for you, or it can leave you in the cyber dust with every other mediocre shot on the screen.

What’s behind me has opened a few doors for me recently. One that I cannot talk about just yet, but it is huge. It spurred curiosity. The other has to do with those three little guys at the very top.

A C-level executive who discovered me during the speaking engagement scheduled a Zoom call after a lovely conversation exploring how I might be able to support his business unit. He noticed those three guys over my shoulder.

“Is that RUN DMC?” He asked. And of course it opened up a conversation that we wouldn’t have normally had. He told me that was his first concert he ever went to as a teenager. Then I got to share my stories.

Small talk like this increases your likeability, probvides depth to your character. It also makes for a fun and colorful background.

At the beginning of the year, I decided to shake things up, and rearrange my office space. Part of that move had to do with taking down my green screen, which served me well, and will reappear when it’s needed.

But I had no idea huge opportunities that would result from taking it down and setting up my bookshelf.

So yes, get yourself a crystal clear camera, WebCam, or otherwise. Invest in a great microphone so that your sound is crystal clear as well, and put some time into developing your stagecraft so that you can tell a story about yourself even when you’re not telling the story yourself.

What else do you spy with your little eye behind me?

What does it tell you about me?

I’ll see you online.