If you want to sound confident in online meetings, start adopting these 7 habits

From the Personal Branding Blog

I remember the first time I had to speak in a virtual conference: I felt like a deer caught in the headlights. 

Sitting in my living room, trying to look poised as I focused on a tiny dot on my laptop screen, I suddenly forgot how to make my words flow naturally. If you’ve been there, trust me, I get it. 

Online meetings can be tricky because everything you do—your posture, your facial expressions, even the slight nervous tremor in your voice—ends up magnified in that little on-screen box. 

And while technology has made our lives easier in many ways, it’s also nudged us into the spotlight more often than we might be used to, sometimes making us feel less than confident.

 In this piece, I’m laying out seven habits that can help you sound (and feel) more confident the next time you’re leading a Zoom call or chiming in during a Microsoft Teams discussion.

Let’s get right into it.

1. Create a distraction-free zone

Distractions are the kryptonite of online confidence. If the dog is barking in the next room or your phone keeps lighting up, it’s almost impossible to maintain your train of thought. 

Personally, I’ve noticed a huge difference in my tone and clarity when I take a moment to set up my environment beforehand. 

It’s the same principle we apply in face-to-face sessions: if there’s a lot of noise or visual clutter, people end up feeling tense, and that tension leaks into their voice.

One small step I take is turning off all notifications on my laptop and phone when I’m in a meeting. 

I also place a simple “Do Not Disturb” note on my door, so my husband (or the mail carrier) knows not to interrupt. This might sound obvious, but it’s often overlooked.

Once you’ve created a space that feels calm, you’ll naturally project more calmness in your speech. 

Remember, the environment you’re in plays a huge role in how you deliver your ideas.

2. Make eye contact with the camera

It might feel odd at first, but keeping your eyes on the camera—rather than on your own image—can help you appear more engaged and authoritative. 

I’ve run group counseling sessions via video calls, and one thing I’ve frequently observed is that people tend to watch themselves like they’re checking a mirror. 

That can be distracting and might send the wrong signal to others, like you’re not fully focusing on them.

So yes, stare at that tiny lens like it’s your best friend. If it helps, place a little sticky note near the camera with a smiley face or a short encouraging phrase. This keeps my gaze right where it should be. 

The simple act like “looking someone in the eye”—or in this case, the lens—can boost your internal sense of conviction, which in turn radiates out in your voice and overall demeanor.

3. Warm up your voice and posture

Before a big call, I sometimes do a few vocal warmups—yes, just like a singer. 

Loosening up the jaw, the tongue, and the throat can help you avoid the dreaded “morning voice” syndrome that makes you sound groggy. 

When we’re tense, our voices can go flat or shaky, so a couple of neck stretches and deep breaths can go a long way toward sounding more self-assured. 

I also like to do a quick posture check: sit up straight, shoulders relaxed, feet on the ground. It’s incredible how much this posture shift influences the energy in your voice.

At times, I remind my clients to imagine themselves as a tree—rooted yet flexible. This visualization can be surprisingly helpful in finding a balance between firmness and ease. 

A relaxed but upright posture not only helps your voice project better but also signals to your brain that you’re alert and ready. 

Once you feel physically centered, it’s much easier to let your voice carry the confidence you want to project.

4. Pace yourself (and embrace the pause)

I have a tendency to rush my words when I’m excited or anxious, which can make me sound less confident. 

One trick that has helped is intentionally inserting brief pauses during my speech—right before making a big point, for instance. 

This pause creates a moment of suspense and lets the audience catch up with your line of thought. 

It also underscores that you’re comfortable taking your time, which is a silent way of telling everyone you’re in control of the conversation.

By allowing yourself the space to breathe, you’re not only regulating your own nerves but also projecting a calm presence that people gravitate toward. 

This gentle composure can do wonders for how people perceive your authority.

5. Speak with intention and clarity

We’ve all heard the phrase “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.” 

In online meetings, both factors are equally vital. When your internet connection might lag or your microphone might not be top-of-the-line, clarity is king. 

If you bury your main points under heaps of filler words, your message gets muddled. 

So be intentional. Jot down two or three key thoughts you want to convey before the meeting starts. 

That way, when you do speak, you’ll be crystal clear and purposeful.

I like to think of it as giving a mini elevator pitch every time I speak. Because let’s face it, virtual audiences have short attention spans—there are too many temptations to multitask. 

By being succinct, you keep their attention fixed on you. And if you can’t resist a little humor or anecdote, make sure it ties into your main point so it enhances, rather than derails, your message. 

Remember: clarity is not about being curt, it’s about being straightforward.

6. Engage with genuine emotion

Have you ever noticed how a heartfelt story or honest reaction can instantly shift the energy of the group? 

Brene Brown famously said, “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” 

In a virtual setting, letting yourself be seen sometimes means allowing a smile to break out or letting that moment of laughter bubble up naturally. 

It’s about real connection, not a performance. Showing genuine emotion can make your presence more impactful. 

Personally, I used to hold back from displaying too much enthusiasm online, worried I’d come across as unprofessional. But the moment I let myself get a bit more animated, something shifted. 

People became more responsive, and they seemed to trust my insights more. That’s because authenticity resonates with everyone. 

Of course, it’s a balancing act: share enough to show you care, but not so much that you overshare or derail the meeting’s focus. 

Let your emotions elevate your points, not overshadow them.

7. Follow up and reflect

Once the meeting’s over, the journey isn’t really done. How you follow up can boost or undermine the confidence you projected. 

A brief email summarizing your main takeaways or reiterating any action steps can reinforce the idea that you’re organized, dependable, and genuinely invested. 

This follow-up doesn’t have to be lengthy. Even a simple “Great conversation today, here are the three things we decided on…” does the trick.

And let’s not forget the reflection piece. After a meeting, I spend a couple of minutes thinking about what worked and what didn’t. Did I stumble over any words? Did I interrupt someone accidentally? 

Reflecting is how you fine-tune your habits for the next virtual gathering. It’s less about criticizing yourself and more about continuous growth. 

If you keep track of these small improvements, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you evolve into the confident speaker you’ve always wanted to be.

Final thoughts

Sounding confident in online meetings isn’t about forcing a persona. It’s about adopting a set of habits that align with the best version of yourself. 

With these habits, you can become truly confident and make a good impression in your online meetings. 

In my own life, these little tweaks have made a world of difference. I hope they do the same for you. 

If you keep at it, I guarantee you’ll see results. You might even start looking forward to those virtual sessions. 

Thanks for reading, and as always, I’m cheering you on your journey to greater self-confidence.

Signing off.

The post If you want to sound confident in online meetings, start adopting these 7 habits appeared first on Personal Branding Blog.

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