3 Things to Never, Never, Never, Do in a Virtual Professional Meeting

Virtual Networking MeetingWritten by Michael Goldberg

It’s easy to forget that the impression you leave matters. Especially when you’re taking meetings from your backyard, dining room table, and even when walking the dog.

These virtual meeting scenarios would never take place if you were in the office or actually working with a client pre-COVID. At least in most cases.

If you’re always scrambling to find meeting links, passwords, and dial-in numbers just moments before the meeting, that’s also a recipe for disaster. If you’re doing the Zoom meeting code scramble now it may mean that you’re doing that almost all the time. And if you’re the only person to have to ask the host for the meeting code, others will take note. That’s outside of technical difficulties and glitches.

Good habits also leave an impression. I’ve noticed that it’s always the same people that arrive to meetings early, register early, never leave early, (the early bird and all of that!), respond quickly, and can be relied upon to follow up and follow through.

Impressions matter.

Here are 3 practices to never practice at a Virtual Meeting (and most non-Virtual meetings)!

Don't Eat!
A professional meeting is not the place to ingest your pasta dinner. Even if you're at the dining room table. The occasional sip of water, coffee, or slug of beer if it’s a virtual happy hour is fine. Even the protein bar can wait until the meeting is over.

Don't Leave Early or Arrive Late!
If unavoidable, let others know ahead of time. Especially true in a meeting where there will be an impact to planned group discussions and activities. Planning goes into most meetings so be mindful of the work that went into making the meeting valuable.

Don't Multi-Task!
If you must, click mute. Best to stay engaged and take notes to show your interest level and to be clear on action steps and follow up items. Keep your camera on! Lurking off camera is almost the same thing as not being there. Be present in the meeting. Look at the camera, make eye contact, and show others that what they’re saying is important. If you’re lucky, they’ll extend the same respect for you.

If you’re expecting that package at the front door or you’re on babysitting duty, it might not be the best time to have your meeting so plan accordingly.

Think of your virtual business meetings as job interviews. Or meetings with prospects. When you put all of your business meetings in that context, this is all common sense.

Keep the pasta dish in the microwave for later.

Remember, your actions leave an impression. What impression do you want to leave?


Image by Armin Schreijäg from Pixabay

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