Avoid Missteps in Virtual Meetings

 

Lockdowns, quarantines, Zoom meetings, and no toilet paper (remember!) yeah, we did not see this coming! The year 2020 has gone from us all “Having our 20-20 vision,” and this being “My decade” to all of us impatiently waiting for 2021 (It’s here, at last!!). 

 

With how unpredictable this day and age has been, there is a lot to account for and more changes than ever before.

However, the one predictable thing, although not in person for obvious reasons, is meetings, meetings, and more meetings…only this time virtually! At school, at work, family time and even during the holidays.

Oftentimes, when you try to implement some of the mentioned elements, you may run into challenges. To resolve this very issue, I wrote my book "The Breakthrough Accelerator - Resolve your Biggest Challenge in 4 weeks"- Receive a Free download of this book by Clicking this Link

 

We are thankful for Zoom and Google Meet, which for the most part, have allowed us to experience some set of normalcy during a worldwide pandemic, even if it is through a computer screen. That being said, our adjustment to Zoom has been few and far between with the level of mishaps and general lack of awareness.

 

While virtual meetings might be the new norm over the last year, the changing circumstances have led to an entirely new set of virtual meeting etiquette problems. There are missteps out there when it comes to virtual meetings that one needs to be aware of!  

 

While different from in-person, social etiquette is not thrown out of the window just because you happen to be in a virtual meeting. All social rules apply. Therefore, here are some no-no’s below that one should avoid while virtually live on camera (or as you will see right below, not on camera) that you should be aware of!

 

Not turning on the camera. For many, the blank screen and no camera has become a chronic habit. Not having your camera on serves as a way to “not” pay attention to the meeting at hand while it is assumed that you are. While you might think you’re trying to get other things done, if you ask a presenter, talking to a blank screen can be draining!

Sure, you might be driving your car, but this is a no-no too! Not having your camera on, regardless of the reason, signals a lack of respect and transparency on your part that will likely turn off those on the other end. Be mature; turn it on!  

Not being presentable. Look presentable in a Zoom meeting; it is simple as that. What is normal for most meetings is the same for most virtual meetings! It is easy to tell that you just rolled out of bed or haven’t tidied up a bit.

Take the extra step and make yourself look good, and that way, you’ll feel good too. Whether you need to find a cheap haircut in a hurry, or you keep a button up next to your desk, having a professional top and looking lively is a good habit for virtual meetings!

Forgetting to mute the mic. On platforms like Zoom, you have the option to turn on/off your mic when you speak and are finished speaking. However, keep in mind that when you do speak, sometimes the screen brings your name up on the main screen, and doing that without knowing your mic is on, can lead to an embarrassing situation. It’s best to enter meetings on mute, and always double-checking that real quick can reduce mishaps from happening. It’s courteous to others when it is not your turn to speak.

Final thoughts. Sometimes being on a video conference instead of in person can be tough to adjust to because it requires more of something we simply are not used to, and perhaps will take time. Still, it is essential to say that we need not substitute our professionalism for comfort. Always use the litmus test when attending virtual meetings, “Would I do this in person?” and if the answer is no, don’t do it virtually! Just because you’re online doesn’t mean social etiquette never stopped remaining in effect. 

If we learn to be respectful, courteous, and polite by making sure we are focused, free of distractions, camera-on, in plain sight, and all of the necessary bells and whistles of Zoom in check, you won’t ever have to worry about committing a virtual meeting misstep again!