Most business are trying to adjust to new and unprecedented changes in the midst of this global pandemic. Your company has probably had to let people start working from home to the extent that the nature of your business allows it, which means in-person communication can be challenging. This is why many businesses are using conferencing applications for online meetings, with Zoom being the most popular and widely used.
Zoom is a great substitute for face-to-face meetings, but it can be awkward. It’s not easy to look into a computer camera and make small talk while you wait for everyone to join the meeting. If you are leading the meeting, it can be uncomfortable to lead a discussion in this way. For the time being, communicating well in online meetings could be important for your career and your business.
To avoid dead air and the awkward silence that comes when no one knows what to say, plan for your meetings ahead of time. Have a basic outline of how you want the conversation to go, and it should be much easier to avoid uncomfortable moments. Another thing that can help your online meetings is to allow time for questions and concerns. Give your team the opportunity to speak freely about challenges they are facing right now.
If you dread online meetings, chances are that your team feels the same. Be respectful of their time, especially if they are at home with young children right now. This means being conscious of when and how often you schedule your meetings. The challenges you are facing are probably the same things your team is struggling with at home. Zoom meetings are a tool to implement wisely, not a bandage for the challenges your company is facing.
It’s going to take time and patience to make it through this difficult time. If you’ll be engaging in online meetings for awhile, think about ways you can communicate well during these sessions without wasting time. Zoom is a fantastic way to keep things moving forward, but only if you are using it in the right way.
By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC