Communicate Using Video, Sound, and Lighting to Your Advantage

An Interview with Nick Wiget

In these challenging times, we are finding ourselves relying on video technology more than ever before to communicate. While many of us have been using Zoom and other conferencing technology for months (some even before the pandemic pushed video calls into full swing), it is easy to fall back on old habits or to assume we are already projecting our best image. However, as many video call leaders and participants can attest to, that is just not the case.

To share some wisdom and guidance on putting the best foot forward, technologically-speaking, I interviewed Nick Wiget, an educator in the field of Media and Communication. Nick has worked in media production for a number of entertainment and sports organizations. With two decades of experience, Nick shares some of his knowledge (mostly anecdotal) about how to adapt to an online work environment that requires media skills.

Question 1: Can you share your background (where you grew up, education, experience) with us?

Nick:

I grew up in the same town where I reside now, Wilmington, Ohio. Although, there have been several stops along the way before I came back home. I started my schooling at 3 years old, enrolling at a private Catholic preschool. From there on, I completed my primary and secondary school in Wilmington, then attended Xavier University my freshman year. From there, I transferred back to my hometown college, graduated, and then pursued my graduate degrees at the University of Dayton and Bowling Green State University. I kept telling folks that I’d progressively move South as I continued. In the end, I kept going North! It got colder, no doubt.

All along, I studied within the Communication field. In junior high and high school, I participated in student media and ran my own DJ service. In college, I would eventually figure out that COM was the natural choice for me, and I studied it from both a theoretical and practical approach – from communication arts to social science.

Question 2: So, let’s jump right in. People in all industries are becoming more familiar with video calls as a way to communicate than ever before. While some are naturals, others still struggle to find the best angle or make the best impression. Can you give our readers a few tips on lighting and angles—really, how to look your best during a video call?

Nick:

The simple answer is that you need good lighting and sound. If those two things are present, a lot of other issues are forgiven. Too often, I notice that folks pick a spot that’s just too dark, or they have a window behind them, turning them into silhouettes. Always make sure that your face is illuminated. And obtaining good lighting is easier than ever. A decent ring light (which is often used in photography for portraits and professional modeling) can be purchased online for less than $50. Most folks outside of TV and film never consider just how much lighting makes a difference when it comes to video quality.

Along the same lines, a decent microphone will allow folks to hear your words better and makes your video calls much more impressive. Some laptops, phones, and computers have good built-in mics, but a decent USB condenser microphone can be purchased online for a low price. I just bought one for less than $20 that works well for such a purpose.

The little things can make a huge impression when it comes to how you present yourself. Think of it like this – you dress to impress when you meet folks in person. When it comes to the online world, give yourself advantages in a presentation that will set you apart from others.

Question: How about sound? How do people enhance their voice and set up a workspace with the best acoustics? Do you recommend microphones? Headphones? What makes the best set-up to communicate successfully?

Nick:

Along the same lines as having a good mic, it’s important to have a space that’s quiet and free from distracting outside noise and sounds. This includes sounds that may come from outside of the room where you are. So, think about if there’s an active train track or construction site right outside of your space. There are a lot of good, inexpensive mics to choose from that can be easily purchased on Amazon. I have purchased several and have never been disappointed in any of them.

A USB mic is the best choice for novices, as they are often plugged and play. Headphones are optional. Most computers have noise-canceling built in so that you won’t hear the sounds over the mic. If you so choose to use headphones, I suggest just going with some type of earbud. While larger headphones may have more noise-canceling ability, it can look odd if you are wearing a big headset on your head during a video chat.

Question: Do you have any tips or tricks for backgrounds or anything else to enhance a personal space during a call?

Nick:

I tend to think that a natural background works the best. Try not to make it too busy – too much clutter may take the attention away from you and onto the objects in the background. Although some folks like playing with green screen and chromakey technology, I find that most folks don’t adjust lighting well enough to make it look good. There’s always a green halo around them. As long as your space makes you comfortable, it will likely make others feel the same.

Question: When you teach students about how to communicate effectively, what are some of the most important lessons you can give in essentially a few bullet points?

Nick:

I think it’s important to remember to focus on listening. We live in a world where there are more distractions than ever before – just think how many times you’ve checked your phone while reading this. The added noise can be detrimental to effective communication and can lead to some really negative outcomes in our relationships with others and our lives, in general.

One lesson that I impart on students was given to me when I started the process of learning how to write scripts – be clear and concise. This, of course, seems to go totally against everything that I would be taught in grad school, where it seemed like we’d say that same thing fifty different ways in order to hit page limits. HA! But the importance of being able to fully communicate and idea using as few words as possible is a valuable tool. How can we paint this picture in the minds of the listener/viewer so that they see the same thing we have envisioned? It’s harder than it sounds.

Question: You have an extensive background in broadcasting, announcing, and acting as an Emcee and DJ. Do those experiences help you communicate better on video? How so?

Nick:

In some ways, everything is a performance. There are some who study communication and feel that everything we do is a performance. I think the experiences that I have using the technology, in particular, makes me more comfortable and knowledgeable about how to approach new mediums when the situation arises. So, I know how to speak into a microphone or look into a camera – skills that have incorporated into speech classes when I have taught them. Treating a video call the same as a broadcast is a good approach, as they are the same in a great many ways. You don’t have to be a pro to understand that you want to look and sound your best. So, taking little steps to improve the video and audio quality often helps you be more confident on-screen.

Question: How can a business incorporate some principles of the broadcast industry into their daily life?

Nick:

Personally, I think every type of business would benefit from having a media professional on staff. But I realize that’s not always feasible. The businesses that have the most success understand how to use media to promote themselves and establish relationships with their customers and clients – it’s that simple. Being proactive and innovative with your use of social media and traditional media can yield great things for a business. Today, we all have more direct input when it comes to the messages we can create and distribute. Having folks who have skills in media can only be a benefit to any organization.

Question: Having a parent in a nursing home, do you see any opportunities for enhanced communication skills that may translate to other communities throughout Ohio?

Nick:

I think the advances in technology and their ease of use have really helped us, especially during a year as rough as 2020. The distances between folks begin to shrink when we incorporate some of these new and emerging technologies into such environments. And it’s important to train staff members in these communities as to how to reach out to families and others to keep loved ones connected. I feel like the pandemic forced the issue a bit, so there’s been a learning curve.

Question: Are there any online resources you recommend as people learn how to Zoom or communicate online in general?

Nick:

I actually don’t use Zoom unless someone else requests it. When the pandemic began, I started thinking of ways to use social media as a resource to stay connected to my students. So, I bought a Facebook Portal. It allows me to be able to move around a room and have the camera follow me as I demonstrate concepts. Being a video producer, I think that having the camera automatically follow me around is a great feature. It also has gesture controls, so I can get the camera to focus in on something, and then gesture to go back to a wide shot. The students loved it. They said they felt like they were in the room with me.

Question: What positives do you think have come out of the pandemic regarding communication in the workplace?

Nick:

That’s a tough one. There’s the old notion that most things for which meetings are called could simply be handled by email or phone. Now, everyone wants to schedule a hundred Zoom meetings for everything! The beauty of an online environment is that communication can be asynchronous and still be highly effective – let people work on their own time but give them deadlines they can meet.

I think folks can be just as productive working and communicating from their own environments (home or other) as they can working together in a single space. Sometimes, folks are even more productive when working from home. But you have to be well-versed in how to effectively communicate with others using technology to be successful in that endeavor.

Question: Anything else you’d like to share or suggest?

Nick:

As a bit of a nerd when it comes to technology, I would tell others to remember to have fun when it comes to using different media to communicate. If you’ve ever fancied the notion of hosting a radio or TV show, or working in some form of media, now is a good time to practice. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t take it seriously, but I find that if I’m having fun working on something, I tend to work harder and do better.

I truly appreciate Nick’s time in sharing some important thoughts about communicating online and how to make that experience more effective. Watch for future courses with Nick as a resource as his knowledge and presentation is an asset to our educational community.

 

 

 

 

Another Way to Communicate Effectively

In addition to being able to communicate online effectively, it’s also important, especially in the healthcare industry, to be able to communicate nonverbally, using body language. Our administrator and activities professional level course, Body Language: Tips and Tricks for Caregivers will go in depth about the nonverbal aspect of body language communication. Find the course here.

Celebrating Awareness Months, Weeks, and Days – A Checklist

Nearly every month hosts at least one, if not more, recognition period of time (Activity Week, Social Work Month, Administrative Professionals Day). Someone at the organization is responsible for ensuring these days don’t go by unnoticed, and some sort of celebration occurs. Sometimes, recognition activities fall to the manager of the department, and when added to other responsibilities, this can be a source of stress despite the happy cause. This post is a simple checklist for celebrating awareness times (insert length of time here). A few reminders can support the experienced director as well as the new manager and anyone in between with the mission of coordinating awareness activities. The list is divided into tasks that should be completed before the recognition time (month, week, or day), during the time period, and following the time.

Also, make sure to read our blog post that goes along with this checklist about National Activity Professional Week!

Before Celebrating Awareness Months, Weeks, and Days

• Compile the stats
  • Who is in the department?
  • What is the total (or average) years of experience among team members?
  • Identify some interesting or unique numbers—i.e. how many activities were held the prior year, how many meals are served a month, how many RNs are in the department, etc.
• Create a recognition board of some sort
  • Utilize company communication boards to post the stats
  • Use social media as appropriate
• Ensure all managers know what recognition is upcoming and when
• Talk to the department manager and team members to be sure recognition activities are appropriate and respectful
• Review the budget for recognition
  • Does it include money for gifts? A department lunch or dinner?
• Write a personal thank you note to each team member (if it is a large department, enlist other leaders to make this happen)

During the Celebration

• Post your recognition tool as a way to kick off the month/week/day
• Make an announcement of the department being recognized to stakeholders
  • Notify staff
  • Communicate to residents
  • Inform board members
  • Tell family members
• Personally acknowledge all or as many team members as possible
• If within the budget, give each team member a special gift or token of appreciation
• If within the budget, organize a special group event of some sort free of work constraints
• Distribute personal thank you notes/cards
• Take pictures of team members and post as appropriate

After Celebrating Awareness Months, Weeks, and Days

• Wrap up the time period with a final acknowledgment of the department and expression of gratitude for their individual and collective service
• Make notes on what activities were held, budget impact, and success of each activity (simply put, how did your recognition go over?)
• Maintain a file for each department recognition each year

Final Thoughts: Small Acts of Appreciation

One of my favorite ideas for hosting successful awareness/recognition months is to create a basic form for each staff member to complete. This form asks simple questions of each partner to help create personalized, motivating rewards, and recognition programs. Examples of questions include:

• What is your favorite store? Restaurant?
• What do you like to read? Favorite author?
• What makes you feel appreciated? (this is a good place to offer suggestions, such as: monetary bonuses, personal thank you from boss, gift cards, other)
• What are you most proud of in your work?
• What do you collect?
• Do you like to celebrate events individually or with your team?

Keeping a record of individual responses to questions such as these can not only help assemble a meaningful recognition week, but it can also help develop impactful incentive programs throughout the year. All too often, we assume it’s the big events that matter most. But to many people, small acts of appreciation mean more than steak dinners; and knowing the difference can create stronger relationships, better work environments, and a happier workforce.

National Activity Professionals Week: Celebrate the JoyMakers!

It’s always fun to kick off a new year with a celebration (and often much more fun than trudging away at the New Year’s Resolutions). Fortunately, a simple Google search can give us reasons to celebrate monthly—as well as weekly and daily! This month features one of my favorite awareness weeks: National Activity Professionals Week. For years I worked in older adult settings (nursing homes, CCRCs, independent living communities, and senior centers) leading or overseeing activity departments. I rejoiced every January when we had a week dedicated to the professionals who help develop the spirit and joy within a community.

Looking online, there will be themes to utilize in planning an awareness/ recognition week—check out NAAP to see their theme for 2021. Other themes may be featured by the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals and even by promotional products companies. However, there is no need to be tied to a specific theme. After all, showing appreciation is a valuable theme in and of itself.

Check future blog posts for a checklist for celebrating awareness months/ days/weeks. Following a few simple guidelines, you can raise awareness of an important department as well as recognize the individuals who work hard in that department every day. But this post is focused specifically on activity professionals because, after all, January does include their week! So let me share three things that are nearly universal with activity professionals and a simple question you can ask—no matter what your role in your organization is—to recognize their dedication.

National Activity Professionals Week – How to Recognize Their Dedication

Ask Your Activity Staff About Their Why

First, what makes an activity professional special? From my experience, some of the best activity staff I knew did not set out to work in programming. They came from a variety of other paths (teaching, performing as musicians, running art studios and classes, acting, serving as a nursing assistant). They somehow learned of this field and explored it, often as an assistant or entertainer. Then they jumped in. This is special. Finding your passion through an unconventional journey is special. These amazing “activity people” brought a new level of creativity and a unique set of eyes to their communities—they brought years of clowning, lesson planning expertise, craft skills beyond the traditional, theatrics, and so much more.

As you recognize your activity staff, take a minute to ask them their why. What drove them to this profession, and why do they love it? Asking this question demonstrates your appreciation for the people who work in activities and for the work they do. Use their why to help recruit new effective activity staff and volunteers—look for the same motivators (not necessarily the same experience)—and to reward the current ones.

Ask Your Activity Staff About Their Behind-the-Scenes Efforts

Second, activity professionals work in a field that is consumed with behind-the-scenes work. I remember in my first activity job, I was an activity coordinator on an Alzheimer’s unit. I worked 40 hours per week in the facility. But I spent probably an additional 20 hours per week getting ready for those paid hours. While many staff in healthcare put in long hours, those hours are many times expected and related to the specific job (the DON assembles procedures and makes rounds at varying hours, social workers respond to concerns after typical business hours to meet the needs of family members).

But my extra hours, and those of so many in the field, were a distinct combination of seemingly busy work, building connections, and begging friends and family to help. Examples include cutting out homemade puzzle pieces for residents to put together, recruiting friends to dress up in period costume to serve at a Victorian Tea (and securing said costume), and adding up how many hours per week each resident participated in the offered activities (a facility obligation). These were things I needed to do to offer an amazing activity program and to comply with requirements but couldn’t do during the workday because of the things I needed to do to offer and amazing activity program and to comply with requirements.

True activity professionals love what they do and want to share the joy of the world with their residents and the joy of their residents with the world. They need to freedom to run activities all day, so they spend their off-hours figuring out ways to do that better. It’s incredibly rewarding but also tiring and generally unacknowledged. Perhaps it’s just assumed that the behind-the-scenes work happens (kind of like how people don’t think about the hours teachers spend grading papers or writing lesson plans). Regardless, it’s valuable time and immense dedication. Ask them to share some of their favorite stories about their behind-the-scenes efforts. You’ll likely be surprised at some of the lengths they’ve gone, and you’ll certainly help them feel seen.

Ask Your Activities Professionals About the Special Moments

Finally, activity professionals love the little moments, the sometimes imperceptible difference they make, the fleeting reactions that validate a month’s worth of planning. The big events are seen and celebrated. Administrators, and activity professionals, gush about how many residents attended a concert or showed up for a family night. But more often than not, within and outside of those big events, the small successes are the ones of which the activity professional is most proud.

I once organized an Italian dinner for a family night—we had opera singers and tiramisu brought in and donated by a local restaurant, on-point decorations, and a fabulous dinner prepared by our dietary manager. But the thing I remember most was the end of the night, as we played “That’s Amore,” a nearly immobile resident stood from his wheelchair and danced with his wife, softly singing every word to the song. She didn’t want to leave that night. And from then on, she and I had a special connection that began with a beautiful moment built on an intimate memory between two married people who couldn’t live together anymore. I will forever cherish that moment.

The thing about activity staff is that they don’t design these magic moments. They don’t plan all the details or determine the themes assuming something beautifully unexpected is going to happen. Rather, they organize and promote their activities, and they identify a Plan B—because often the unexpected happening isn’t magical but rather disappointing (an entertainer not showing up, for example, or a fire drill in the middle of a luncheon). The backup plan covers the possibility that something could go wrong.

The joy of an activity director lies in the possibility that something will go wonderfully right. This is beyond the initial why. It’s not why they get into activities; it’s why they stay in activities. Ask your activity professionals to give you some examples of the most special moments they’ve experienced in their jobs. They will be thrilled to let someone in on these extraordinary flashes of wonder that so often go unnoticed.

Celebrating the JoyMakers During National Activity Professionals Week

Activity professionals are passionate, are committed, and are celebrants of the meaningful minutiae. Take a minute this month, during the all-too-short National Activity Professionals Week, to dig a little deeper into their world and honor how special they are. Their hearts will thank you for it.

New Year’s Resolutions: 20 Quotes to Kick Start Your New Year

2020 was a tough year. It began with all the preemptive excitement that any year does; but within months, that hope was shattered. Tension, vitriol, anger, division filled out social media feeds and news channels, the likes of which had not been seen in decades. But with January comes once again the same rebirth and the same anticipation we feel every year. Let’s hold onto that glimmer of normalcy and make our usual big plans and far-reaching goals. Commit to reconnecting with friends and growing in our personal passions and pursuits. Let’s lead 2021 instead of letting it deliver another round of knockouts. Rather than a prose filled post, I’m using this blog to re-energize and reaffirm my goals and to share some words of wisdom that may give you a guiding thought as well. Enjoy, and happy New Year!

Quotes

“Let our New Year’s resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.” – Goran Persson

“Hope smiles from the thresholds of the year to come, whispering, “it will be happier.” – Alfred Lord Tennyson

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” –Arthur Ashe

“Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there.” – Bo Jackson

“It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane.” – Charles Lindbergh

“New Year’s Day is every man’s birthday.” – Charles Lamb

“The world needs more dreamers, and the world needs more doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do.” –Sarah Ban Breathnach

“With the new day comes new strengths and new thoughts.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” -Dalai Lama

“Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“I am not afraid. I was born to do this.” – Joan of Arc

“Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work.” – H.L. Hunt

“Quality is not an act; it is a habit.” – Aristotle

“Expect problems and eat them for breakfast.” – Alfred A. Montapert

“Every exit is an entry somewhere else.” – Tom Stoppard

“If you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree.” – Jim Rohn

“Everything you can imagine is real.” – Pablo Picasso

“Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and progress.” – Charles Kettering

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Find more New Year quotes here.

Kick Start Your New Year

I hope that these quotes energized you for the upcoming year. Use them to guide your resolutions and goals and kick start 2021. Lastly, if you enjoyed this blog post, read more of them here!