Zoom meetings have become part and parcel of our everyday lives.
Allowing us all to stay connected with our colleagues, video conferencing has become paramount to maintaining some sort of normality and business continuity – keeping day to day business operations moving.
And, although many of us are now used to getting to grips with video calling, some home workers still find the process extremely daunting and challenging. This way of working is completely out of the norm and can take a little time to get used to.
If you’re struggling with video conferencing, you’ve certainly landed in the right place. Here are our top tips for successful video call/meeting.
Do you have a stable Internet connection?
First and foremost, before you begin your call, make sure that you have a stable internet connection. This will allow you to avoid any interruptions and inconsistent audio during the call. If your connection isn’t up to scratch, you may need to consider upgrading it while you’re working remotely, particularly if multiple members of the household are using it to work and learn.
Dress to impress
Just because you’re working from home, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look the part when joining video calls and meetings. When you’re spending your day talking to your colleagues and clients online, ensure you look professional, just as you would do in the office. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with embracing comfort but it’s important that high standards are maintained, and you do not jeopardise the credibility and professionalism of the company you work for.
Move any distractions
Home working is extremely challenging, especially if you also have a partner working from home or you’re juggling home schooling and work at the same time.
However, when talking to colleagues or clients online, it’s important that you do so in a clean, tidy and quiet space, removing anything that will distract you during the call. Everyone is aware that things are far from normal right now, and the odd interruption from a child or pet isn’t going to cause problems, but do everything you can to ensure you’ll be able to focus 100% on the call.
Have you got the right software?
Since the Government advised UK workers to work from home if they are able to do so, there has been a huge boom in video conferencing software. Platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams are now used by businesses around the world.
Before beginning a virtual all or meeting, make sure that you have downloaded the correct software and get to grips with its features if it’s not a platform you’re used to dealing with.
Don’t talk over each other
Whether you’re having a one-to-one call or a group conference call, it’s important that you practice patience and refrain from speaking at the same time as others on the call. This can be difficult to do as reading human interactions online is very different to speaking face to face.
Be aware of different time zones
Finally, when organising video conferencing meetings, you should always be aware of the different times zone and plan accordingly. So, make sure you pick a time that will work for everyone and hopefully business travel will start up again soon!
