3 Rules for Going Virtual

It is tempting to to apply the same communication formats, standards and tactics to our pandemic-induced, virtual world. But in a virtual world you are competing with a very different environment - it feels more casual than it is and can lure even the most veteran of professionals into some seriously rookie mistakes.

Here are three simple rules to keep your virtual world as professional as you want people to think you are.

You cannot take the material you produced for your in-person meeting and throw it into a virtual meeting. 

When you’re speaking at an in-person meeting, the meeting is set up to be focused on you. In virtual meetings you are competing with each participant’s individual environment – which is not about you at all. You have to get creative if you’re going to keep people engaged.

You are always on – even if you’re not the one speaking.

What is the new number one fail point for virtual panel discussions? The person who isn’t speaking. Over the last three months there have been countless memes made of panel discussions with a focus on the one person on the panel who is not speaking and forgets that everyone can still see them.

While the virtual environment may be new, some of the same rules apply.

Because we were all thrown into an all-the-time virtual work environment, we have been given a lot of leniency. But most meetings are not casual. Respect people’s time, have an agenda, keep the meeting punctual, review actions and send follow ups. If half the meeting is spent talking about someone’s Zoom background, you probably didn’t need a full hour for the meeting.

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No?l is a Communications Strategist in New York. She believes the world would be a better place if we engage our neighbors, learn to communicate effectively, and put family first – whatever shape your family takes.

This article was originally posted on Instagram for T&F Communications.