7 Things You Should Never Do In Virtual Meetings

In today's digitally-driven landscape, virtual meetings have become the cornerstone of communication for businesses, educational institutions, and social gatherings alike. While they offer unparalleled convenience and flexibility, mastering the art of virtual meetings requires more than just logging in and speaking up.

To ensure seamless collaboration and engagement, it's essential to be mindful of certain practices that can derail the effectiveness of these virtual gatherings. In this guide, we'll explore seven common pitfalls that can hinder the success of virtual meetings and provide actionable strategies to avoid them.

1. Arrive Late

When it comes to virtual meetings, you can’t use the excuse that your previous meeting was in a conference room on the other side of the building. We all know you just clicked ‘end meeting’ before clicking ‘join meeting’. When you show up on time you send the signal that this meeting is important to you. Showing up early also gives you some time to connect with other participants on non-work topics, bolstering your relationships.

2. Multitask

It is so tempting to multitask when you’re in a virtual meeting. That’s because you think you can multitask. Most of us do. But when you think you’re multitasking, you’re actually doing something called task switching, and that means you’re missing out on parts of what’s happening in the meeting. Commit to being focused and engaged throughout the entire meeting, even when it’s not your time to contribute.

3. Keep Your Camera Off

Nothing tells your fellow meeting participants that you’re multitasking like having your camera off. When your camera is off, it’s like you aren’t at the meeting. Virtual meetings are less visceral than in-person ones. Showing your face builds trust and engagement. Avoid making the excuse that you’re having internet bandwidth issues. That explanation is often met with skepticism.

4. Use A Virtual Background Without A Green Screen

Amateur hour is over. If you choose to use a virtual background, make sure you have a green screen. Otherwise, you’re distracting your colleagues when they look at you and see your ear blending into the virtual vase behind you. Portable green screens are inexpensive and help you look professional. And if you don’t want to use a green screen, identify an appropriate real background that helps you exude your personal brand.

5. Ignore Hygiene And Wardrobe

If you jump out of bed and don’t even run a brush through your hair, then sign onto that first Zoom meeting in the morning, you’re telling people “I just don’t care!” Of course, it would be weird for you to be dressed and primped as if you’re going to a formal event, but don’t confuse working from home with taking a day off. People make judgements based on your appearance.

6. Arrive Unprepared

This applies to all meetings regardless of whether they take place in Conference Room A or your makeshift home office. Show up as the competent, confident, and engaged person you are. That means making sure you’ve done the pre-work and collected your thoughts about the contributions you’d like to make to the meeting. In an ideal world, virtual meetings will be shorter and more interactive, because there should be a prep step that participants can complete ahead of the live meeting.

7. Share Unreadable Information

Avoid screen sharing if you're only presenting text. Sharing your screen should provide a visual that helps augment and reinforce your message. If you need your audience to see a detailed spreadsheet, send it beforehand, so they don't have to strain and squint to see the details. A good rule of thumb is to share multimedia slides and keep your words to 12 or fewer per slide. That will allow you to use a 30pt font or greater.

In conclusion, while virtual meetings are a fundamental aspect of our contemporary professional and social landscapes, their effectiveness hinges on our ability to navigate them with etiquette and awareness. By avoiding the seven critical mistakes outlined earlier, you can ensure your virtual interactions are both productive and positive.

Let's leverage these insights to transform our virtual meetings into more meaningful and impactful experiences, ensuring we communicate clearly and respectfully in the digital realm.

I hope you find the information in this article helpful. For more information, feel free to reach out to me directly at [email protected]. I'm always happy to answer any questions you might have or talk about how I could help you build your business. Looking forward to connecting with you.