What mistakes are you making during video calls?

To avoid equipment-related disruptions, I would recommend the following options, which i regularly use for my video call meetings: 1. Backup Equipment: If possible, have backup equipment on hand. For instance, having a secondary microphone can save the day if your primary microphone fails. 2. Early Join: Join the meeting a few minutes early. This gives you a buffer to address last-minute issues and ensures you start on time.

Before a meeting, go into the settings of the conferencing app you are using. Use the "Test" features to make sure your audio comes through clearly. Keep in mind that if you work in an office, built-in microphones pick up background noise and office chatter more than headphone microphones do!

Do not answer your phone during a video meeting. I have actually witnessed this on more than a few occasions. If easier, pretend you are in the same room as the person you are in a video meeting with. . .Then, ask yourself, would you interrupt the meeting and answer your phone? Probably not, right unless it was an emergency? If it is an absolute emergency then please ask to be excused and step out of the room or at least, off the Zoom screen and mute yourself. Follow the same etiquette rules as you would if you were meeting face to face in the same room. Remember, you are building and nurturing a relationship with another human. Choose to treat them with respect just as you expect to be treated:)

Big Yes, There are several ways you can improve the audio quality of your videos: 1. Use good quality equipment: Investing in good quality microphones, preamps, and recording software can make a big difference in the quality of your audio. 2. Pay attention to microphone placement: The position and orientation of your microphones can have a significant impact on the sound of your recordings. Experiment with different placements to find the best sound.

Saying that your camera isn’t working. It’s 2023 we know that it is. Just be honest, we all have those days where we just dont want to be seen

Eye contact rules to follow during video calls. If you are the speaker: 1) Look into the camera 100% of the time while speaking. It makes the listeners feel you are talking to them directly. 2) Stop looking at yourself. It is easy to slip into looking at yourself instead the camera. I choose to exercise the 'Hide Self View' option in Zoom and 'Hide me' option in Teams. Once this distraction is hidden, you will be able to focus better. If you are a participant: Look into the camera at least 80% of the time. It makes you appear engaged and attentive.

Some things that help me: When you’re speaking look into the camera. Avoid looking at yourself. It’s hard but it’s not a mirror, I promise. When listening look at the speaker but also up at the camera occasionally. Practice with a friend who will give you honest feedback. Try to stay natural and watch your facial expressions. People see it all!

To make eye contact on video or virtual meetings you need to look at the camera. That is the only way to achieve what feels like direct eye contact to your audience. So it’s vital that we learn how to look at the camera and carry on a conversation with as much focus, passion, and intention as if our listener is seated right in front of us.

Depending on the conferencing platform, you can have the gallery at the top of the screen when screen-sharing. Having the gallery at the top helps keep your eyes close to the camera which gives the appearance of giving eye contact with participants. Rather than glancing to the side to talk to participants, you will look more engaged and also be able to see your audiences reactions as you talk

If you feel comfortable doing so, then have your camera on and make eye contact. However, remember if someone doesn't maintain eye contact, there can be valid reasons for this. For example, lots of autistic people don't feel comfortable making eye contact. Those that suffer from anxiety can also struggle with eye contact, so don't make assumptions if people don't.

Avoid backlighting and glare. If you're sitting in front of a window, make sure the light is coming from behind you, not in front of you. You can also use a curtain or diffuser to soften the light. Adjust your camera angle and distance. Position your camera so that it's at eye level and slightly above you. This will help you avoid looking up or down at the camera, which can create an unflattering angle. You should also be close enough to the camera that your face fills the frame, but not so close that you're taking up the whole screen. Use natural or soft light. Avoid direct sunlight or overhead lighting, as these can create harsh shadows or make your face look washed out. Position yourself near a window or use a soft light lamp.

This is a major issue I was facing during my team calls. Now I sit in a dark room with a table lamp (Yellowish) facing towards me. The video is better, much clearer and saves the anxiety of having the poorest video among everyone on the call! - Easy Fix!

When you are taking a call from your laptop, you can use an in-built camera application and check your image and the background on the screen. Also, background images could play a big role. Choose those images that are not too dark and cluttered.

A high-quality web camera with a suitable sensitivity and angle of vision can make a significant difference to your video call experience. Investing in a good camera will not only improve the quality of your video and sound, but it can also increase your comfort level during calls. With a better camera, you can communicate more effectively, and your colleagues or clients will have a clearer understanding of you and your surroundings.

Prior to a video call, test out your lighting and go live by yourself to check how you appear. Also, check the settings because they can sometimes improve lighting.

If you need 100% focus during the video call, you need to make your desk as clean and clutter-free as possible. This helps much more than we think it does.

Have a stable background during calls -- This is the most important aspect of vedio calling. So it's better to refrain from moving; a motional background causes heavy distraction for the rest of the participants in the call & result in - Irritation, - knowledge loss, - distraction & mental noise If it's not possible to stop moving.. it's better to go off camera.

Interruptions and distractions represent a significant pitfall in the realm of video calls. These disruptions can originate from various sources, be it your surroundings, your electronic devices, or even your own actions. They have the potential to derail your focus, causing you to miss critical information and potentially irritating others involved in the call. To circumvent these issues, it's essential to select a quiet and private location for your video calls, silencing notifications and alerts on your devices. Equally important is refraining from multitasking or habitually checking your phone during the call, as this can not only distract you but also detract from the quality of the interaction. #communicationcoach

Look out the Background! Unlike the physical meeting where everyone presents in the same room, Video call meetings have participants from different places. Background of any participant may distract other. Avoid attractive / colorful / distracting backgrounds.

Zoom and other conferencing apps often allow you to set notification preferences for “In-Meeting”. At the very minimum, you should always turn on “Hide Notifications While Screen Sharing” Avoid the embarrassment of texts or other notifications showing up during an important presentation ????

Most people think of engagement as actively speaking up during calls, but that's not always necessary if you aren't the lead on the topic at hand. You can convey a powerful sense of engagement while listening by nodding, remaining focused on the discussion at hand, and refraining from speaking unless you have something meaningful to contribute. Speaking up just for the sake of it can actually make you more of a distraction than a team player.

?Pro tip: Use the "reactions" features in platforms like Zoom and Teams. They're an excellent way to show acknowledgment and interest without interrupting the flow. It boosts interaction and keeps the conversation vibrant. ??

Share your materials and agenda before the meeting. Give people an opportunity to review the information before you meet. Extroverted and introverted individuals communicate differently, so it's important to give everyone plenty of time to digest the information!

Meetings without a clear agenda often lack direction. Participants might come unprepared, discussions can go off-topic, and there might be no clear conclusion or action items by the end. This not only wastes time but can also lead to frustration among team members. To ensure productive meetings with more engagement, Share the advance agenda with all participants beforehand so they can come prepared.

Be mindful of the meeting participants whom you need for a meeting. Invite only those who have some interest/power in the concerned subject. Otherwise, you can choose people to be optional and send meeting notes for their offline reading after the meeting is over. These tips will help you to make sure of time management and to effectively engage participants in the call.

Do a tech check in the start of the meeting. Putting 5 minutes to check: -Audio & Video works -External links (e.g Miro boards) are accessible -Internet is stable Will save you less interruptions later in the meeting.

A big lesson learned was to TEST, TEST, TEST! If you meet online regularly, test regulary. Charge everything and have chargers ready just in case, and also have a backup plan in case a problem arises. I generally plan to attend meetings on my laptop, but my phone and tablet stay charged and ready just in case. The best tip I have, is to EXIT and CLOSE & then RE-ENTER the chat if you are experiencing ANY technical difficulties. I capitalized that because asking questions such as - "Anyone else lagging?" - "Can you hear/see me?" ETC. can be insanely distracting and cause a cascade of other meeting agenda issues.

One of the most important parts in video calls is to also check the partner on the other side. Make sure they have access to your chosen video platform. For example very often some of the corporate companies have internal guidelines where some of the video platform might be blocked.

During my time working in a tax office that catered to around 400 deaf and hard of hearing clients each tax season, I found that the majority of them used video phones to communicate. However, I often encountered issues with poor call quality. To address this, I would inquire whether they had any other devices connected to the same wifi network and ask them to sign those devices out of the internet. I would also advise them to remove any electronic devices near their video phone and close out any apps or tabs running in the background. The most common issue was when someone in their household was using streaming services like Netflix, gaming, or engaging in crypto-mining or other heavy server work.

Follow these two key things to mitigate technical difficulties' impact in future virtual meetings. 1. Rehearse Transitions: Practice transitioning to your backup plan so that you can switch smoothly without panicking if technical difficulties arise. 2. Dedicated IT Support: For critical meetings, especially with external stakeholders, consider having IT support on standby to address any issues immediately.

It is important also not to be judgmental and not use stereotypes in evaluating other participants. As one example, some autistic people are not comfortable with being on camera or eye contact. Many neurodivergent and neurotypical people can better process information if looking away, and not at the camera. In global contexts, there are also different cultural norms for eye contact. Moreover, not everyone can afford fancy cameras. Some might be using borrowed equipment. That does not mean they have nothing of value to say. Being kind and inclusive - or not - matters as much on video calls as it does face-to-face.

An often-overlooked mistake during video calls is "Listener's Fatigue," which sets in quicker in virtual settings than in-person due to the concentration required to pick up non-verbal cues on screen. This can result in waning attention and reduced engagement as the meeting progresses. To combat this, consider incorporating planned short breaks or interactive elements at regular intervals during longer meetings. This helps to reset participants' attention and allows for a more engaged and effective discussion, improving the overall quality of virtual interactions.

When leading a call, make it easy for participants to share or jump in. Often times on calls, the leader will "open it up to the group" without suggesting a flow. This creates awkward silences, or people repeatedly talk over each other. Invite individuals to speak up, or go down the list alphabetically, use the "reactions" button to raise hands, etc.. By making it easier for others to share their thoughts, the meeting is more likely to be engaging and ensures everyone has a chance to be heard (and reduces awkwardness).

During video calls, most of us have seen examples of children opening office doors, cats jumping onto desks, door bells ringing. Someone once barged into my home office while I was on a call. (Need a sign outside my door!) Sometimes you can't prepare for everything. Be kind. We're human.

In my experience, I've found out that online meetings are more about voice than they are about visuals. Many people would prefer not to turn on their cameras and just lie down while listening to you. It's not ideal, but there's not much you can do. What I found to be very effective is playing with the way you speak. Alternating your tonality and inflection as you present during online meetings is a powerful means to capture the attention of your audience.