TOP TIPS FOR YOUR VIRTUAL NETWORKING MEETINGS.

Find a space where you won’t be disturbed and make sure you’re in a room that’s best optimised for wifi - we all have those dodgy corners where it’s wobbly.

Keep the camera eye level or higher. Raise it up with cookbooks if needed but make sure that you’re not looking down at the camera - “up nostrils” is not flattering for anyone.

Find the light - if possibly face the window so your face is illuminated - or pop a lamp behind your laptop in front of your face to ensure that you can be seen.

Try and smile - looking at yourself in the camera feels strange I know, but make sure that your smile reaches your eyes. Smiling at yourself boosts serotonin, while smiling at others boosts oxytocin, building chemically fuelled rapport with them.

Introduce yourself as you arrive as you would on an audio conference. Ensuring that your device has the right and professional name is a good call too. “Mum’s iPad”doesn’t actually reveal who you are. If you’re feeling fancy, you can create a branded Zoom background which will make it clearer who you are, and saves the need for tidying up behind you.

Usually when we meet with people in person there are many facets to a conversation and these nuances are sometimes missed on video.

Much as it’s rude to be late for a meeting in real life, it’s not helpful to the meeting to arrive late.

Set a phone reminder for 10 mins beforehand and grab your drink and then test your tech and camera angles.

Make use of the mute key when you’re not speaking. Background noise is distracting for the speaker. Also you can type on the chat function without disturbing others to talk independently or ask questions. You may also be placed in breakout rooms to allow for some more sociable chatter.

It may seem like a small thing but our reliance on tech can make us a bit abrupt. It’s also exhausting. So make good use of pauses - slow your speech.

Similarly when leaving a meeting, take a bit of time where possible to thank everyone and say goodbye.

FOR 1:1s you may not need a video call; old fashioned phone calls also work well for connections.

If you can follow these steps you’ll find that you can nurture new create relationships and WIBN maintain connections with those who are important to us.