We’ve all gotten used to a world run on virtual meetings. It’s the new normal, a landscape of stacked video boxes where we try to lead, influence, and connect. But if we’re being honest, something often gets lost in translation.
That feeling of command and confidence — what leadership experts call executive presence — can feel like it evaporates the second the webcam turns on.
The truth is, most of us were thrown into the deep end of virtual communication without a manual. In his popular YouTube video, “How to Have ‘Executive Presence’ On A Zoom Call As A Professional!”, Vinh Giang, you can reclaim your authority and make a powerful impression by mastering two fundamental fixes:
- Master Your On-Screen Space: Adjust your camera framing to create a comfortable “social space” that allows for natural body language.
- Elevate Your Production Value: Ensure your audio and visual quality are professional to make your message credible from the start.
These two foundational lessons — along with powerful strategies for mastering your voice and mindset — are game-changers for anyone looking to project confidence and influence through a lens.
“The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” — Peter Drucker, Consultant and Author
Lesson 1: Stop Invading Personal (Screen) Space
The first secret is something you probably never think about: camera framing. As Giang demonstrates with captivating energy, how you frame yourself on a video call has a profound psychological impact on your audience. The key lies in a concept called proxemics, or the study of how personal space affects communication.
The Three Zones of Connection
Giang breaks down personal space into three zones, humorously illustrating them in a live presentation.
- Intimate Space: This is the zone reserved for close relationships. On a video call, this is the equivalent of having your face fill the entire screen. It’s too close for a professional setting and can make people feel instinctively uncomfortable, as if you’ve invaded their personal bubble.
- Personal Space: This is a bit further out, but still feels too close for comfort in a professional context. It might make your audience feel on edge without even knowing why.
- Social Space: This is the sweet spot. In real life, it’s the comfortable distance for a normal conversation. On camera, Giang defines this as being framed from roughly the belly button up. This view feels natural and non-threatening.
Finding Your “Social Space” on Camera
By simply moving your camera back to capture your “social space,” you instantly make your audience more comfortable. But the benefits don’t stop there. This wider framing allows your audience to see your hand gestures, a critical component of dynamic communication that is lost in a tight headshot. Your body language becomes visible again, translating your energy and conviction in a way your words alone cannot.
Of course, this raises an immediate, practical concern many professionals have: what if I’m not wearing pants? Giang’s advice is simple and delivered with a laugh: “Put on pants!” The small effort to be fully presentable allows you to command a much more powerful and influential communication style.
“Digital body language is the new currency of trust and connection in our hybrid world.” — Erica Dhawan, Author of Digital Body Language
Lesson 2: Production Value Is Your Perceived Value
Giang’s second lesson is a blunt truth of the digital age: people judge the quality of your production before they even listen to your ideas. He illustrates this with a simple diagram of concentric circles. At the core is your Value (your ideas, your content). The next layer out is your Communication (how you deliver your message). The outermost layer, and the first thing people experience, is your Production (how you look and sound).
If your production quality is a 3 out of 10 — blurry video, bad lighting, tinny audio — your audience will perceive your 10-out-of-10 idea as a 3. In the virtual world, high production value is the gateway to being taken seriously.
The Two Quickest Wins for Production Value
You don’t need a Hollywood studio to look and sound professional. Giang emphasizes two key areas:
- Visuals: Invest in a decent quality camera and, more importantly, good lighting. Being well-lit and clearly visible is non-negotiable for establishing credibility.
- Audio: Your laptop’s built-in microphone isn’t enough. A quality external microphone ensures your voice is clear and your message is heard without distraction.
Why You Need to “Overact” for the Camera
One of Giang’s most critical insights is that our energy levels naturally drop by about 70% when speaking to a camera instead of a live human. Because you’re not getting immediate feedback from a room full of people, your energy flattens, and you come across as disengaged or monotone.
To compensate, you have to consciously bring more energy to a virtual call. What feels like “overacting” to you will likely translate as normal, engaging energy to your audience. This isn’t about being fake; it’s about adapting your performance to the medium to ensure your authentic passion and personality shine through.
“Body language is a very powerful tool. We had body language before we had speech, and apparently, 80% of what you understand in a conversation is read through the body, not the words.” — Deborah Bull, British Dancer and Arts Leader
Bonus Lesson 3: Conduct the Music of Your Voice
Even with the best microphone, how you speak makes all the difference. Giang teaches that your voice is an instrument, and mastering its musicality is key to holding an audience’s attention. A monotone, flat delivery — a common pitfall on camera — signals boredom and a lack of conviction. To create a more dynamic vocal presence, focus on what he calls the vocal foundations:
- Pace: Vary your speed. Speak more quickly to generate excitement or urgency, and slow down deliberately to emphasize a critical point or allow an idea to land.
- Pitch: Use the full range of your voice. A higher pitch can convey enthusiasm, while a lower pitch can signal authority and seriousness. Varying between them adds emotional texture to your words.
- Pause: The most powerful tool is often silence. A well-timed pause before or after a key statement forces the audience to lean in and creates dramatic impact, ensuring your most important messages are remembered.
“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” — Brené Brown, Researcher and Author
Lesson 4: Manage Your State, Manage the Room
Executive presence isn’t just a performance; it’s a reflection of your internal state. This idea is supported by experts like Dr. Amy Cuddy, whose research shows how our body language can influence our own feelings of confidence. Giang emphasizes that your energy and mindset before you even join the call will dictate your presence during it.
A pre-call ritual is essential to set your intention. It can be as simple as:
- Priming with Music: Listening to a song that makes you feel confident and energized for a few minutes before the meeting.
- Physical Adjustment: Standing up, stretching, or even adopting a “power pose” for a minute to shift your physiology from passive to active.
- Mental Rehearsal: Taking 30 seconds to visualize the outcome you want and remind yourself of the value you are bringing to the conversation.
By consciously managing your own state, you enter the virtual room with the energy and focus needed to command it, rather than just being another passive participant.
It’s Not About Faking It, It’s About Translating It
Mastering executive presence online isn’t about creating a new persona. It’s about removing the virtual barriers that prevent your true confidence, credibility, and influence from being felt by others. By understanding the psychology of space and respecting your audience enough to invest in quality production, you can move beyond being just another face in the grid. You can show up as a dynamic, influential leader, ready to make a real connection, no matter the distance.
“We are transitioning from a world where literacy meant the ability to read and write to one where it requires the ability to see and speak in a compelling way.” — Nancy Duarte
Video Sources:
- How to Have “Executive Presence” On A Zoom Call As A Professional! —
Other Sources
- Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges — https://emilyqtian.medium.com/presence-81ec9ee723f4
- Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges — https://www.amycuddy.com/presence
- Gravitas Masterclass In The Oval Office— https://carolinegoyder.com/2025/05/12/gravitas-masterclass-in-the-oval-office/
- Power Cues: The Subtle Science of Leading Groups, Persuading Others, and Maximizing Your Personal Impact — https://admiredleadership.com/book-summaries/power-cues/
- How to Elevate Your Presence in a Virtual Meeting (Harvard Business Review) — https://hbr.org/2020/04/how-to-elevate-your-presence-in-a-virtual-meeting
Final Word 🪅
