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This is Diana Ecker’s guest post.
Virtual meetings are something we take for granted. With just a few clicks, you can bring together people working remotely, at home, or in offices all over the world.
It allows you to work from anywhere and with contractors, clients, or teams.
It feels like we spend too much time in virtual meetings these days, but that is unlikely to change anytime soon.
Elizabeth offers some additional tips in her video at end of article.
Even if you host virtual team meetings every day, there are still opportunities to optimize. This article will share four quick and easy tips. Each one takes less than a minute.
This article:
1. Eliminate background noise
2. Prevent accidental disclosure
3. Seize the opportunity to be seen
4. Don’t let participants languish
Video: 5 Tips to Improve Virtual Meetings
Small Tips, Big Payoff
Further Reading
These tips are quick and easy to implement, and can help reduce aggravation. This will help you lead more efficient and effective virtual meetings.
1. Eliminate background noise
You want to hear your clients, colleagues, and coworkers (at least most of it!). However, with sensitive microphones, background noises such as traffic outside, dogs barking, or other talking people can distract from the meeting.
Typing is one of the most common offenders.
A microphone can pick up the sound of someone hitting the keys hard and make everyone mad. It’s something I’ve seen more than once.
There’s an easy solution. Most video conferencing software allows users to mut themselves or allow the host to mut them.
You can address this issue when you are leading a virtual group by welcoming participants to use the mute function and explaining the process.
It’s even more important to ensure that there is no background noise when using meeting transcription software.
This can help to avoid unnecessary irritation and help participants focus on the meeting.
A headset can help reduce background noise. Similar to this Logitech headset, I use it. Avoid accidental revelation
Many project meetings require screensharing to share a presentation, document, or app so that the group can work together. This tip is for those who may be required to share their screen during meetings.
Screen sharing is a great tool to make sure everyone is on the right page. It’s perfect for walking through slides or a spreadsheet.
Even with the best screen sharing capabilities, it is easy to accidentally share the wrong window from your computer. Before you know it you’re sharing a family photo, confidential document, or a draft that you don’t want to share.
When you’re setting up for your next meeting take a moment to close any windows you don’t want to accidentally open.
You won’t be worried about the wrong thing appearing when you share your screen.
3. Seize the opportunity to be seen
Video conferencing is so engaging and immediate because of the face-to-face aspect. You can see expressions and even micro-expressions if you are fast enough. ).
This also means that you are responsible for making sure your face is visible and well-lit on screen.
If you are in the shadows, which is most often when there is a bright light behind you, you can see the expressions of other people but not yours.
This is a serious issue. It can cause tension in virtual meetings.