The Executive Home Office: Ergonomics, Camera Light and Sound

The executive office is where the man cave earns its keep. You may spend more hours here than in any other zone, and much of that time on camera in front of clients, boards and investors. Two things matter: a body that still feels good after a ten-hour day, and a picture and sound that say you are in control. Both come down to careful set-up, not expensive décor.

Ergonomics: chair, desk, screen

• Chair: set seat height so your feet rest flat and thighs are roughly level; fit the lumbar support into the curve of your lower back and set armrests so your shoulders stay relaxed.
• Desk: elbows near 90 degrees when typing; a sit-stand desk lets you change posture through the day.
• Monitor: top of the screen at or slightly below eye level and roughly 50–100 cm away, in line with OSHA's workstation guidance.
• Laptop: raise it on a stand and add a separate keyboard and mouse.
• Movement: change position often; no posture is good for eight hours straight.

Buy the chair for the tenth hour, not for the showroom.

Task chairs such as the Herman Miller Aeron or the Steelcase Gesture are built around wide adjustment ranges and long warranties. Try them at your own desk height before you commit, and buy from authorised dealers so the warranty stays valid. Look for adjustable seat depth as well: it lets you keep a gap of two or three fingers between the front edge of the seat and the back of your knees.

Light for video calls

• Face a window, or place a soft key light in front of you, slightly above eye level and to one side.
• Add gentle fill on the opposite side to soften shadows.
• Never sit with a bright window behind you; the camera will turn you into a silhouette.
• Keep the camera at eye level and frame yourself from mid-chest up.
• Match colour temperatures: all daylight or all warm, not a mix.

Sound like the room is bigger than it is

Bare walls, glass and hard floors make you sound as if you are calling from a bathroom. A thick rug, curtains, a full bookcase and a few fabric acoustic panels at the first-reflection points cut echo dramatically. Then move the microphone closer: a good USB or XLR microphone on an arm, or a quality headset, beats the laptop microphone every time. Close the door, silence notifications and keep a clean, curated backdrop behind you: a few books, one piece of art, nothing that competes with your face.