1. Turn your camera on
All of us have those bad hair days or times when you really don’t want to be seen by the outside world. However, it is so important to have the camera on during a video call. Video meetings were designed to make distanced discussions as personal as possible. Having your voice as well as your face in the meeting is crucial for good communication. After all, meetings are about participating in the company you work for and encourage discussion. If you feel a mess, tidy yourself up. We guarantee you’ll feel a lot better and a lot more ready for the day!
2. Don’t be late!
One of the best old school rules for good etiquette is to never be late! The meeting was planned for a certain time because of a good reason and people have schedules to keep to. Don’t expect everyone to wait around for you! The video call recipient really doesn’t want to have to repeat themselves because of your tardiness. Surely you wouldn’t let getting into work late become a habit so why would you be late for a work-related video meeting? Being a bit early also means you have time to check your internet connection and if you have any annoying computer software that needs updating.
3. Have good lighting and a correct camera angle
Now we know why movie directors shout “Lights, Camera, Action!” With good home office lighting and a well-positioned camera focus, you’re going to make a good impression. Natural light is best, but if not, bright white light that gives a natural glow will keep your video call light and crisp. Try to sit facing a light source so that your face is clearly visible and try to avoid sidelight or backlight as this will cast you into darkness. For a good camera angle, make sure the camera is at eye level — no chin or forehead camera angles please!
4. Keep the background simple and tidy!
You want the video recipient to focus on you, not what DVDs you have on the shelf behind you or where you bought your snazzy armchair from. Keep it generic and as clutter-free as possible. If you can, why not install a background wallpaper mural for a pleasant backdrop that will keep the room as neutral as possible? Also, make sure you’re not led in bed, lounged on the sofa or have a pile of washing or dirty plates in the background for everyone to see!
5. Have a good internet connection
Get in touch with your internet provider if you know your connection is bad and you have an important meeting coming up. There’s nothing worse than the video breaking up whilst you’re in mid-speech and no one has a clue what you are talking about! If all else fails, move to the part of your home with the best internet connection. But, hanging out the window or stepping into the front street to get a better signal is also not going to look very professional!
6. Keep pets at bay
Of course, you love your pets and they like to come up for a cuddle now and again when you’re working from home. But to do this during a meeting is a big no-no. You want to come across as professional. The video recipient doesn’t care about your pets or your home life too much: they are calling you for a valid reason. Also, giving a pet a stroke and a little hello during a meeting isn’t fun for the recipient either. They can’t see, touch or enjoy a cuddle from your pet and they will just see it as you wasting their time. Close the doors and keep those furry friends out of the way.
7. Don’t leave the meeting halfway through
Try not to leave the meeting at all! Of course, sometimes things crop up — especially when you are working from home. But don’t suddenly leave without letting anyone know why. If you don’t want to interrupt the flow, hold up a sign or send a private message to someone telling them you had to go and that you will be back soon. But, realistically, you shouldn’t leave a meeting unless it is an absolute emergency. After all, if you were working in the office, you wouldn’t know that the delivery guy was knocking on your door or that your grandma had called around unexpectedly!
8. Avoid distractions
When you are in a video meeting, BE in the meeting. Don’t type on your keyboard and carry on with your work and don’t look at your phone. You wouldn’t do this in a face-to-face meeting, so why do this in a video call? Even if you put mute on and they can’t hear you typing, they will be able to tell by your eyes that you aren’t concentrating on what they are saying. However, if you are typing because you are making notes on the meeting, why not write on a notepad or piece of paper? But remember not to rustle the papers around too much! There’s nothing worse than the noise of rustling paper on a video call.
9. Mute yourself when you are not talking
Of course, many of us need to type to make notes about a meeting. If this is the case, mute yourself when you are typing. Also, you should always mute yourself when you are not talking. This is to stop any unwanted noises coming into the meeting — whether it be your dog howling at the window cleaner or your partner has come into the room to ask when you’re having your lunch!
There are so many rules when it comes to video meeting etiquette. For ease, just remember these simple, three rules: be prepared, polite and professional.
