In a virtual meeting, our brain still makes a snap judgment, often in under a second, based on what it sees, hears and senses. But without the usual office context, that “first impression” lands even harder. For remote workers, mastering that biology gives them an edge.
When we connect via video or audio, our subconscious mind triggers ancient-wired circuits that ask: Can I trust this person? Do they know what they’re doing? Are they ready to lead or follow? Those roots are biological and they play out in our lighting, camera angle, tone of voice, posture and micro-expressions. Remote workers don’t have the luxury of a warm-up handshake or a dynamic office entrance, so they must make their presence count from launch.
Here are three practical biohacks remote meeting participants can use to tilt the scales in their favor:
- Frame your face, elevate your presence. Users should position their camera at eye-level, light their face evenly (no ceiling shadows) and keep their background clean yet relevant. When a person’s eyes are level and posture is open, the brain reads that person as credible and attentive.
- Modulate your voice and leverage micro-expressions. Users should speak with a confident but relaxed cadence, pause to let their points land, and offer an unmistakable smile when connecting. The brain recognizes honesty and competence in tone and facial rhythm long before words sink in.
- Pre-call physiology reset. A simple two-minute reset like deep breaths, forward lean, shoulders back, primes our nervous system for clarity and alertness. When we walk into the digital room in “on” mode, we arrive as we mean to be seen.
Remote workers are always front-stage. When we tap into the biological wiring of first impressions, we don’t just show up; we show up ready. These biohacks will enable users to be perceived as more present, trusted and influential from the very first second. —Scott Hutcheson, Ph.D. (scotthutcheson.com), a senior lecturer at Purdue University specializing in technology and engineering leadership
Scott Hutcheson, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer at Purdue University specializing in technology and engineering leadership. He is the co-founder of Hutcheson Associates, a consulting and corporate training firm helping leaders across industries build high-performing teams and resilient organizations through science-based insights and practice-proven tools. A sought-after speaker, Dr. Hutcheson has delivered keynotes and workshops all around the world. His latest book is Biohacking Leadership: Leveraging the Biology of Behavior to Maximize Your Impact.
