How to prevent 'unforced errors' in your online meetings

Whenever I think of online meetings, I go back to the viral video of?Professor Robert Kelly’s interview with BBC?in 2017 when his kids walked into the room while the interview was live followed by his wife, who zoomed into the room like a superhero to take the kids away. If you have kids, you will understand the need for empathy towards your kids and an apology to those who witnessed the interruption. But this article is not about what to do when you are interrupted by your kids; it is about how to prevent what they call, in tennis, unforced errors or mistakes that are preventable.

Invest in a Zoom account

How embarrassing is it to have a meeting cut off abruptly, just as you get into an idea of substance at the 40-minute mark? It is a rookie mistake not to get?a paid Zoom account.?

Invest in the right equipment

Ever since I got my $109?Blue Yeti USB Mic for Recording & Streaming,?no one has complained about audio on my meetings. And, my $40?1080P Webcam with Ring Light and Advanced Auto-Focus, Adjustable Brightness?isn’t even a known brand name and makes me look like a pro. Also, don’t forget a?Webcam Stand Camera Desk Stand with a Webcam Holder?to ensure your camera is straight, steady, and stable even if you have to move the camera.

Dress to impress

Speaking of a steady and stable camera, recently, the CEO of AMC appeared to be?pantsless during an interview with a YouTuber after his webcam fell off of his monitor.?I get it. Why wear pants if you don’t have to? But if you aren’t wearing pants, you can use a webcam and holder like the one mentioned above to keep the camera above the waist!

What’s behind that person?

Zoom allows its users to get creative with their video call backgrounds, but it doesn’t mean you necessarily need to! If you are the primary focus of a meeting, using a distracting background takes away your credibility. Excessively applying such filters could also lead the participants to wonder what you’re trying so hard to hide. Is it your messy room? Your creepy basement? One will never know!

Beds are not a place to conduct professional business – unless you are interested in another type of “business.” Even if your headboard is beautiful, it sends the wrong message. I see this with students most often. Also, once these students get a little older, they will realize how important an ergonomic chair is to help them maintain proper posture!

Direct attention towards yourself

The primary online meeting etiquette requires one to be present fully physically (virtually) and mentally. It is highly advisable to keep your camera on and listen attentively—both as an act of courtesy for the presenter/participants and a display of your credibility. It is always better to sit still while someone is talking/presenting instead of moving about needlessly. Make sure to eliminate as many distractions as possible when you are in meetings.

While it’s all right to attend a meeting while you’re in a car due to unavoidable circumstances, it’s best to be in a stable place and position to offer your complete attention. And do not place your camera opposite to a glaring source of light; apart from being distracting, it also makes everything look dark and dull—including yourself!

Close the meeting when it is over

Hopefully, there is no need to explain why this is important.

Make looking back convenient for yourself and others.

To quickly revisit the meeting contents, I recommend using?Perfect Recall or a comparable service?(unless you share confidential/private information). It’s best to use such services to transcribe interviews to look back and draw meaningful information for various purposes. And make sure to let the participating individual(s) know that they’re being recorded and clearly state your intention behind doing so.?

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The transformative adaptation to online meetings has been the biggest blessing to the world in the last year. Whether you use it to your advantage or consider it as a limitation is up to you.?

I have been able to connect collaborators and clients from across the world within just a few clicks. And if you’re doing something similar, make sure the person on the other side of the screen has their focus only on?you!?

Happy Zooming!

Jay Mandel is Your Brand Coach and is a marketing and branding consultant and adjunct professor of Marketing. This post expresses my personal views, and my personal are directly connected with my employer because it is me :-)

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