Episode 383: Screen-Based Strong Messaging: How to Sound Credible on Remote Calls

What makes screen-based messaging harder than in-person presenting?

Most people already struggle to get their message across in a room, and the screen makes that challenge harder. Because remote delivery removes many of the natural cues we rely on in person, a mediocre presenter can quickly become a shambles on camera. The danger is that people imagine the medium excuses weak messaging or amateur delivery, but it does not. If you have a message to deliver, you need to do better than normal, not worse.

The screen also pushes you into a close-up. The audience sees your face more than your slides, so every distraction competes with your message. That means you must treat remote presenting as a serious stage, not a casual call.

Mini-summary: Remote calls amplify weaknesses. Treat screen-based delivery as a higher standard, not a lower one.

How do logistics and wardrobe choices build credibility on camera?

Start with logistics, because your setup becomes part of your credibility. Dress for success and avoid appearing on camera in pyjamas, casual novelty shirts, or anything that signals you did not prepare. Choose full business battle attire and lean toward power colours rather than pastels, because strong, professional visuals support your authority.

Avoid narrow stripes, because video technology can struggle to render stripes cleanly, and that visual distortion distracts the audience. When you look professional, you make it easier for people to trust your message. A business suit can look more powerful on screen than business casual, even if casual is typical in the office.

Mini-summary: Your clothes and setup communicate before you speak. Professional, camera-safe choices strengthen message credibility.

Which simple equipment upgrades stop remote calls from looking and sounding sloppy?

Use tools that reduce friction. A mouse lets you move quickly and accurately compared with a trackpad, so you can manage slides and on-screen actions smoothly. If your laptop or home computer camera is not strong enough, use a dedicated webcam so the audience sees you clearly.

Audio often causes the biggest problems on remote calls. If your home internet connection is not robust, your sound can break up and undermine your authority. Headphones with a microphone attachment make communication clearer and easier for others to follow. Also record sessions when the technology allows it, because reviewing your own delivery helps you spot habits you cannot notice in the moment.

Mini-summary: Upgrade the basics: mouse, webcam, and headset microphone. Clear audio and a clean image remove distractions from your message.

How do you fix eye contact and avoid “nostril focus” on video calls?

Eye contact matters on screen, yet many people create “nostril focus” because the laptop camera shoots up the speaker’s nose. This angle distracts the audience and pulls attention away from what you say. The screen adds another problem: the camera sits above the screen, so you tend to talk to the screen rather than to the camera lens.

Train yourself to speak to the camera lens and treat the screen like notes you glance at. Raise the laptop so the camera sits at eye level, which immediately improves the angle and your perceived confidence.

Mini-summary: Look into the camera lens, not the screen. Raise the camera to eye level to eliminate distracting angles.

What lighting and background choices make your message easier to absorb?

Make lighting a priority. If the room looks gloomy, the audience must work harder to read your face, and that weakens engagement. Add lights focused on you so you become the clear centrepiece. Control backlighting: close curtains behind you if outdoor light is too strong, because a bright background can make you hard to see.

Do what you can to control the background so it does not compete with your message. If bandwidth allows, use a virtual background to prevent your home environment from becoming the focus. If you cannot, remove distracting items or reduce background lighting so attention stays on you.

Mini-summary: Light your face clearly and control backlighting. Simplify or darken the background so your message wins the competition for attention.

How do smiling and facial expression change how you sound on screen?

People feel tense and uncertain in an unpredictable business world, and your face can reveal those worries without you noticing. On camera, that matters even more because the audience sees you in a large close-up. Smile deliberately, even if your smile is not perfect, because smiling signals confidence and friendliness.

A simple reminder can help: place a note above the camera that says “SMILE” so you remember during the call. When you smile, you look relaxed and in control, which helps the audience trust your message. Frowning, tightening facial muscles, or creasing your eyes sends the opposite signal and undermines credibility.

Mini-summary: Your face communicates your confidence before your words land. Smile on camera to signal control, warmth, and authority.

How do you use body language and energy to own the screen?

Do not let the screen shrink your presence. Body language still communicates powerfully through a camera, so sit up straight, lean slightly forward, and synchronise your gestures with your key points to underscore what you say. Avoid becoming a monotone talking head; speak with passion and animation.

If it helps, stand up to present. Standing can lift your energy and improve your delivery, as long as you keep close enough for the microphone to capture your voice clearly. Treat the room, the screen, and the camera as the same stage. The fundamentals of presenting stay the same; you simply need to make a bigger effort when broadcasting remotely.

Mini-summary: Posture, gestures, and energy drive credibility on screen. Use your body language deliberately and bring passion to your delivery.

How do you improve quickly in this screen-based environment?

Awareness drives improvement. Record sessions when possible, then watch how you come across on screen. Identify distractions such as poor camera angle, weak lighting, flat facial expression, or low energy, and fix them one by one. Repetition and practice turn these fixes into habits.

Remote presenting does not change the fundamentals of messaging, but it raises the bar on visible detail. When you consistently manage logistics, eye contact, lighting, facial expression, and body language, you look professional and your message lands more strongly.

Mini-summary: Review recordings to find what undermines you. Practise the fundamentals until screen-based delivery feels natural and professional.

Author Bio: Dr Greg Story is the host of THE Cutting Edge Japan Business Show. He is a Dale Carnegie Award winning franchise owner, master trainer, President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training, and a three time best selling author.