Zoom Etiquette Made Simple
Virtual meetings have become the new norm for many of us with Zoom leading the way. Zoom is the go-to application for many because it’s an easy-to-use user interface and easy to sign up for an account. The fact that it’s a free service makes Zoom the perfect choice for professionals looking to connect with clients not available for face-to-face meetings.
Zoom Etiquette 101
Make a Great First Impression
There are no second chances when it comes to first impressions. Welcome participants to the online chat via polite introductions at the beginning. This can help you gauge individual personalities and their chat preferences and mind-sets to create an open, effective meeting. Be kind, be courteous, be professional and you will have a successful meeting.
Do Not Interrupt
Nothing will bring a virtual meeting to a screeching halt worse that interruption someone. The flow of communication is fractured, it pisses people off and getting the meeting back and moving forward is very time consuming. As in a face-to-face meeting, each person should get an uninterrupted chance to speak and if you need to raise a point, select Raise Hand or private message the host. Vocal interruptions are a cardinal sin during Zoom calls – don’t do it and politely remind all participants at the onset of the call to please refrain as well.
Don’t be Too Casual
Sure, you’re at home in your shorts and no shoes but always remember that video conferencing with clients is not the same as direct messaging a friend on social media or tweeting a family member. Keep your meeting professional, clear, and concise to avoid misunderstandings.
Be Concise
To keeping the meeting moving forward while still getting your key points across keep your conversation brief, concise, and to the point. Don’t talk about anything unrelated or not on the agenda and if you do need to talk about something in detail let participants know that you’ll send a detailed follow-up email to direct phone call instead of taking over the conversation.
Join the Meeting on Time
Punctuality is king to a successful video conference. Start or join the meeting on time and end it when it is supposed to end. If issues haven’t been properly addressed during the call you can always schedule another meeting.
Give People Time to Respond
Don’t demand immediate feedback as respond often depends on each individual issue at hand. Be patient and wait for the response instead of hammering participants to respond faster or you will come off as unprofessional and rude.
You’ve Now Mastered Effective Virtual Meetings
Virtual meetings are, besides a current-day necessity, is also an effective and cost-effective tool for connecting your team and clients. These connections can make it seem like you’re in the same room and enable forward progress to be made at a safe distance.