you're doing virtual meetings wrong if you don't know these 4 things
“… I think you’re on mute”
We’ve been doing this remote work thing since March and I would think we’ve all got the hang of it by now but no, that is not the case. I was on a work call the other day and I was baffled that people were still having technical issues… like minor things that were within their control. I feel compelled to share a few tips in case you’re still one of those people that talks while you’re on mute (yes, I’m judging you… with love of course!)
There is power in the mute button
I’m sure you’re noticing a trend here! The mute button is your best friend on a web call. I totally understand that we are all navigating the work-life balance in a different way these days. Your living room is now the office, the classroom and maybe even daycare, all at the same time! It can be chaos. With that being said, be mindful of your surroundings and use the mute button accordingly. This is imperative if you’re not the one presenting. Your coworkers will understand a little noise in the background if YOU are doing the talking but if you’re one of the listeners, there should be no noise coming from your end. Also, if there will be some noise in your background be sure to give everyone a heads up so they know what to expect during the meeting.
Stop eating/chewing on the call
Something about the mics on these computers pick up everything! I can tell when you’re chewing gum and crunching on ice and frankly, I don’t like it. See tip above on how to solve this issue.
Find Your Light
If it’s a video meeting, we’d like to actually see you. Face the window or sit in a well lit room. And make sure we can see your entire face and not some weird portion of your head.
When in doubt, call in on your phone
A web call allows you to participate in one of two ways: over the web or over the phone. I’ve experienced connection issues with web participation when a large group of people are present for meeting. If there is is no visual presentation, I recommend dialing in. You’ll always get a better connection, trust me.
