Get dressed up for online meetings to combat Zoom fatigue: experts

An instructor from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) was amazed by his students’ feedback since he started dressing up for his online classes. Now he is suggesting others do the same. 

The ongoing pandemic and reliance on remote technology have turned homes into offices, making people shift away from work attire to home-wear. 

However, Michael Pope, an instructor in the Fashion Program at Wilson School of Design at KPU, is still sorting through his wardrobe each morning to find the most appropriate outfit to teach his class, even though his students won’t see much below his head and shoulders. 

He didn’t actually expect his students to pay much attention to what he wore until he was overwhelmed with compliments. 

“If I were teaching something like patterns or shirt design, I would try to dress in a way that could help them understand. When we were talking about colour or colour relationships, I would choose something that helped them make those visual connections,” said Pope, adding that his strategy was working.

Pope said he was later notified by the program coordinator who said Pope’s students reported that his fashion sense was helping them learn design concepts. 

But even if you aren’t teaching a lesson in colour and design, Pope believes it’s important to take care with how you present yourself virtually.

It sends a message of respect to the person you are communicating with; it also changes your demeanour, said Pope. 

“Dress similarly to when you go to work. It’s a way of showing respect. Even though you are sitting at your dining room table, your office or your spare room, you still have to create a professional atmosphere.

How to improve your professional image during a Zoom meeting 

Johnny Fwu, a human resources business partner with Trinity Western University (TWU), interviewed many people via Zoom amid the pandemic. Fwu thinks just a few simple adjustments could help people look more put together during Zoom meetings. 

First, maintain stable eye contact and don’t be looking at your email or whatever else is on your computer. This helps people feel like they are having a direct conversation with you, said Fwu.

Second, turn on a virtual background for Zoom calls. This can make the atmosphere feel more professional, noted Fwu. 

“We all have different situations at home. Some people might have a two-year-old running around in the background; others have other things going on around them. A virtual background can help people focus on what the speaker is saying rather than looking at all the different things in the background,” said Fwu. 

But regardless of what you wear or how you design your background, the best way to beat “Zoom fatigue” and keep participants engaged is by keeping online meetings short and to the point, Fwu said.