When it comes to virtual meetings, having a stable internet connection is essential. This will avoid video freezing and ensure your meeting runs smoothly.
Another tip is to prepare for your virtual meeting ahead of time. This includes sending out an agenda so that everyone knows what to expect.
Camera
Virtual meetings can be draining if attendees worry about appearing presentable while on camera. It can be difficult for some employees to clean the kitchen before a meeting or ensure their home office doesn’t look messy.
This can be especially true for women who are more expected to “demonstrate competence” during remote calls and newer employees still working on their professional image. These employees are also likely to feel pressured to participate and connect during these calls because they haven’t built relationships with coworkers.
For these reasons, it’s a good idea to use videoconferencing tools that enable participants to choose to keep their cameras off. This includes features like a clean background that can reduce distractions and easy-to-use settings that allow employees to crop out distracting backgrounds and perfectly frame their faces during calls. This helps them focus on the conversation rather than worrying about their appearance.
Speakers
Using a pair of good-quality headphones can help you appear better in video conferences. It’s also a simple upgrade that doesn’t cost much. This will avoid the dreaded mic echo, which can distract everyone on a call.
Depending on your needs, you might opt for a headset with a built-in microphone on the cable. This eliminates dangling noise and is more comfortable for your ears. It will also make your voice clearer to people on the other side of the call. Neat.no conferencing devices can easily integrate into your conference room for a more robust solution.
Microphone
Getting clear audio is essential for video conferencing. Communicating over bad sound quality can be a huge pain, especially when the topic is essential. Investing in high-quality microphones can help boost your virtual meetings to the excellence you demand for your remote workforce.
Walking around the room and not paying attention in a physical meeting is rude. The same applies to a virtual one: Never leave the meeting on mute while you respond to emails or do any other work. This is a sure way to kill the potential for lively discussion and shared laughter and create miscommunications and misunderstandings.
It’s also crucial to follow virtual meeting etiquette and unmute yourself only when it’s your turn to speak. This prevents unwanted background noise from interrupting your conversation and allows your team members to focus on what’s being discussed.
Headset
In addition to ensuring that your colleagues can hear you, a headset helps block distracting noise. While a headset isn’t necessary for every virtual meeting, it’s recommended for a more immersive experience.
The right video conferencing headset can be an affordable upgrade to improve meeting quality. Many options suit any budget, from cheap earbuds to high-end microphones with noise-canceling capabilities.
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