Employees have had to make significant adjustments to their work routine as most businesses have been forced to migrate their operations online — particularly their face-to-face meetings, which are now done through video calls. For those unfamiliar with the best practices when it comes to remote conference calls, this new working set-up can be quite puzzling. It is a handy guide that you can use to ensure that you conduct yourself professionally during a work video call.
Dress the part
Make a good impression by dressing appropriately. While it’s tempting to remain in your pajamas since only your face and shoulders are seen on the frame, you should put yourself in a professional headspace by dressing the part from head to toe. That means that you shouldn’t forgo wearing the proper bottom attire. For women, don’t forget to do your hair and make-up. Light make-up and a polished hairdo using a rolling hairstyle will do.
Familiarize yourself with the rules
Most rules that are followed in a regular meeting still apply to a virtual meeting. Still, there are certain guidelines and regulations that are specific to a particular online conference call and its respective organizer. For example, some organizers prefer to answer questions at the end of the call rather than in the middle. Others prefer the opposite. Familiarize yourself with the rules or ask someone about them if you don’t already know.
Arrive on time
Just like a traditional face-to-face meeting, you need to show up to your online conference call on time. Make sure you log-in to your video call software at least ten minutes before the scheduled meeting begins so you have enough time to get your equipment ready.
Test out your equipment in advance
Ensure that your equipment is working correctly by setting up a test call. Take note of the sound quality, the camera and lighting quality, internet speed and connection quality, and if you have access to the chatbox. Keep your background and surroundings clean and free from any distractions, as well. You should do this at least 15 to 20 minutes beforehand so that you can fix any issues before the call starts.
Mute your microphone when not speaking
Don’t forget to mute your microphone when you aren’t speaking to avoid disrupting other speakers. Keep an eye out for an icon or a status bar on your video screen that denotes whether your microphone is on or not.
Get your material ready
As a participant of the call, you should have a notebook and pen in hand so you can take down important information. If you were the one who organized the conference call, you need to make sure your slide presentation is booted up and ready to go. Don’t forget to exit out of any personal applications, tabs, and windows before starting the call.
Listen well and maintain eye contact
Since everyone can see and hear what everyone else is doing, it’s essential to show your peers respect by maintaining eye contact when speaking or listening well to whoever is currently speaking.
Professionalism shouldn’t go out the door just because you’re participating in a virtual meeting from the comfort of your own home. These tips will help you remain professional and productive the next time you have to conduct a professional work video call.
