Are You New to Remote Meetings?
Remote meetings and working virtually may be new to you during these times of the pandemic. They are new to so many of the workforce out there. We are here to help! It just takes a bit of effort and motivation to shine like a star on your video screen.
Tip #1: Use a good online meeting platform
Two of our favorites are Zoom and Skype. These platforms have been tried, true and tested and work with both MacOS and Windows. Make sure to install these programs and test them out way before your online meeting. In addition, make sure to have any cables, headsets, etc, that you may need.
Tip #2: Have a reliable internet connection
I simply cannot say this enough. If you don’t have a reliable high speed internet connection, online remote meetings may not be for you. There is nothing as off-putting as a delay when you are talking to others and meeting remotely and visually. There may be the possibility of upgrading your internet plan to have a faster connection, if only temporarily during this crisis.
Tip #3: Environment
When testing out your remote meeting platform, pay attention to your background. Is there a glare? A pile of laundry waiting to be folded? Dirty dishes? Make sure to situate yourself in a place in your home that is somewhat aesthetically pleasing as a backdrop. Make sure the light is not too bright or too dim. If you can, locate yourself in a quiet area of your home without traffic noise or barking dogs/purring cats 🙂
Tip #4: Camera quality
If you are on a Mac laptop, it’s likely that you have a built in camera. If you have an external web camera, or will be purchasing a web camera, make sure that it has a reasonable level of clarity. Test this out prior to your meeting. We cannot stress this enough.
Tip #5: Appearance
Although you don’t have to wear your gala event clothes, it helps to dress business casual. No sweatshirts or pajamas please! Make sure your hair is combed. Women: if you normally wear makeup, wear it for your video meeting. Men: wear a nice sport shirt. Small details make a difference.
Tip #6: Distractions
While it’s perfectly okay to sip coffee, tea or water during your remote meeting, I wouldn’t want to look at someone chomping on a sandwich or slurping soup! Make sure to eat before or after if the meeting falls around a mealtime.
Tip #7: Engage and connect!
People enjoy talking to people who show an interest in what they are saying. When your meeting colleagues are speaking, show them the respect of listening and paying attention to what they are saying. Ask pertinent questions and show enthusiasm for the subject matter. If applicable, share similar experiences that are relevant to the conversation.
Interested in knowing more? We can help. Here are some other areas of our website that might interest you:
How we can help get you up and running remotely
Our special pandemic temporary pricing plans
Contact us for more information, or to schedule a call.
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Author bio: Taryn Merrick is a Professional Virtual Assistant and Online Business Manager (OBM). As Principal of Merrick Management And Media Services, she has over 20 years of administrative management experience. Taryn works to promote the Virtual Assistant industry and to make it stand out as a true profession of excellence. Her style is easy going, yet precise, with emphasis placed on exceeding customer expectations, client communication and satisfaction.
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