We’ve all learned a lot about virtual meetings in the last few years, but it’s always a good idea to review the basics. All the cat-lawyers, unexpected kids in frame, pants-free incidents, mute fails, and thousands of other embarrassing moments suggest that our collective memories are a little short.
Here’s our list of things to consider for virtual meetings wherever you are.
- Lighting—Try for natural lighting and/or consider picking up a ring light to ensure decent light for every meeting.
- Background—Definitely consider all the aspects of the background for your meeting. Visually, your background should be neutral but not totally blank. Double check that there isn’t anything inappropriate in frame. A virtual background can help in a pinch.
- Audio—Background audio is something you should keep in mind too, but we were thinking about audio for the meeting. Log in early and make sure that your integral or added mic is working.
- Camera Positioning—Eye level is best. Try to frame out anything that will backlight you or that could be distracting.
- Wardrobe—Be comfortable but, please, please, please wear pants. You don’t have to be office ready, but consider keeping a meeting kit around with a shirt/sweater/blazer you can throw along with a hairbrush. That will cover most issues.
- Refreshments—Have a drink, but double check the container. Depending on your workplace culture, a coffee mug that says “this is probably wine” or one of the thousands of others that a quick google search will show you, might not go over so well.
- Notifications, ringtones, and alarms—Turn them off or silence them. All of them.
- Doors—Try to pick somewhere that you can keep roommates, kids, pets, spouses, or bigfoot from wondering through the frame. If you can’t get behind a closed door (and locked- remember the CNN interview?), try to coordinate schedules or post signs. A lot of them.
Virtual meetings can be great and they only get better when you’re prepared.
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