Virtual Meetings and Etiquette to Take Note of

By Chinomso Momoh
December 11, 2022

With Covid-19 came the sudden shift from onsite jobs and in-person meetings to virtual meetings, which have become a predominant part of our lives.

A lot of businesses, schools, and organisations now choose to have their meetings online because it is more convenient to do so.

Virtual meetings became popular in 2020 during the peak of Covid-19, when there were restrictions on movement, and this made many organisations realise that work could be done from home.

Just like every other thing, virtual meetings, through Zoom, Google Meet, etc., require some level of understanding of how they work, some rules to follow and the need for professionalism.

Also, as an organisation, there is a need to create virtual meeting etiquette for your staff to follow, as it helps to have a more productive, professional, and friendly meeting.

Here are some tips:

Keep to time: It is important that you keep to time for your online meetings because you will not have the excuse of traffic, car troubles or any other troubles one might face while commuting to work or to a meeting.
Dress properly: You might want to be decently dressed for a zoom meeting because you might not know when you will be asked to unmute your video for a purpose; or you might mistakenly turn on your camera and you do not want anyone seeing you in a messy state.
Turn your camera on if... : Turning your camera on may not be required at every meeting, but if you are the host, it is important you do so. Knowing you are on video will also help keep you on track during the meeting; hence turning your video on helps you stay seated and look at your screen.
Pick the right background: Choosing a good background for your zoom meeting is equally important. If you do not have a home office setup, you can choose the best background in the house that will look professional, also a part of the house that has good lighting will help.
Keep microphone muted: Many people who attend virtual calls often get carried away and unmute their mic unknowingly. It is important that you are aware of this so you do not disrupt the meeting.
Be mindful of background noise: It is important that you stay away from noisy areas when you are going in for a virtual call because you do not want to distract the other participants when you speak.
Indicate to speak: It is important to use the raised hand icon when you want to speak, so you do not start speaking at the same time with another person(s).