Five Tips for Helping Introverts Adjust to The Eye Contact Era

People frequently don't believe me when I say that I am an introvert to the core because I seem to be an extrovert as I have held numerous management and leadership positions in major advertising agencies, given countless interviews, presentations, and seminars over the years, and now I am promoting my two brands, MASAMI, the hair care brand, and the Isle de Nature perfumes. However, the truth is that I am an introvert who became social later in life.

Note: This article is from entrepreneur Lynn Power, who shares her experience as an introvert.

Introverts are not less than extroverts, they are simply different. Extroverts find social interactions energizing, whereas introverts find them draining. It took me several years to feel confident, get over my fear of public speaking, and be able to look at myself when making video calls. You can better understand your personality type by taking the Myers-Briggs personality test.

Some of the greatest leaders are introverts, including Elon Musk, Marissa Mayer, Warren Buffet, Abraham Lincoln, and Eleanor Roosevelt. However, it can be challenging if you are an introverted entrepreneur like me. As an entrepreneur, you must tell your startup story because it is a critical part of your brand story.

Customers want to know who is responsible for the brand, what their core beliefs are, what matters to them, and how they can get in touch with that person. So it's a success when you can do this during video calls and interviews without getting too nervous.

Tips for introverts on adapting to the age of visual communication

I've learned the following tips over the past year, and we hope it will also help you feel more at ease during your video calls:

1. Use Larger Platforms and Less Intimidating Channels as a Starting Point for Video Calling

Blogs, articles, and podcasts are a few examples of these channels. I've discovered that it's best to put less focus on appearance during video calls and more on the narrative. Additionally, I enjoy one-on-one conversations that resemble interviews, as it is like speaking with a friend. Find styles that fit your style and personality.

2. Have Thorough Knowledge of the Subject You Are Bringing Up

Make sure you're fully prepared if the interview will be conducted over a video call. Nothing is worse than getting a question wrong and rethinking it again and again later, especially if it's a live stream and lots of people are watching. Many interviewers are willing to take an introductory call to go over the main points of the interview, including specific questions.

3. Start Modestly

Avoid entering a job interview with a major TV network without any preparation. There are numerous webinars, vlogs, live broadcasts, etc. that can be used for practice and confidence-building because their audiences aren't large enough to cause you to feel uneasy.

My co-founder -in MASAMI- and I have found that becoming accustomed to sharing our story over video calls and live broadcasts has greatly and meaningfully improved our presentations. We've been watching videos of ourselves taken a year ago and we're amazed at how far we've come.

4. Enroll in a Media Training Course

You can work on enhancing your presence, tone of voice, and posture with the assistance of some excellent coaches. These minor details must be mastered because they can significantly affect how well a video interview goes. There are a ton of free resources available for guidance if you google "media training courses." You will discover a lot of helpful tips and tricks because the information provided by these courses is straightforward and simple to understand.

5. Consider the Location and Lighting

These could give your interview a professional feel and showcase your best qualities. If you plan to record a lot of videos, invest in a ring light, avoid backlighting whenever possible, set your camera at the proper height (it's better to look down than up), and pay attention to the background and lighting.

I hope these tips will make you feel more at ease during your video chats. I am constantly learning new things, and I hope to feel more at ease every day.