Are you getting bored with staying at home? Are you this close (imagine my index finger above my thumb) to going outside naked? Well, while it is kind of boring sometimes, I am used to it. Coronavirus outbreak nowadays is hitting us like crazy, especially business owners. Many companies are being at disadvantage and some even decrease their employees’ salary. Most of business owners have stopped investing in other parts that should be their best bet in increasing their brand awareness such as website and its development as well as design. As a person who works to provide Melbourne SEO services every day, I have seen many business owners giving up their investment in SEO because of this outcome of this virus outbreak. However, many businesses won’t give up easily. They keep their team going and still giving the full salary their employees deserve. The only thing they change is how they work now; work from home. With work from home method still required for the sake of our safety, businesses keep their routines in check – the video conference. However, while working from home gives you freedom in some ways, there are etiquettes when it comes to video conference. What are they? Keep reading to find out!
Mute yourself when you are not speaking
Although you are not speaking and you think it is quiet, most microphones can pick up minor background noises, like coughs, sneezes, typing, or even people talking in your surroundings. These sounds can easily distract other video conferencing participants and potentially even cause annoyance. So, when it is not your turn to speak, mute yourself and unmute only when it is time for you to speak.
Be in time to prepare and be on time when it’s time
You might think your laptop or computer is running well and the microphones work, but there is nothing wrong with preparing in time with the schedule, so if there is some unexpected error, you can fix it before the meeting starts. It might be inevitable when the errors take a long time to be fixed but you can always inform your employer or leader first before the video conference time. However, if it something minor, you can prepare in time and so you can be on time when it’s time.
Wear appropriate clothing
While working from home is a freedom in its own way that you can sit in front of your laptop almost naked and nobody knows (and nobody cares), work is work in video conference. Unless the CEO tells you to wear anything you are comfortable with like sweatshirt or even your nightgown, you should still wear appropriate clothes for work. It doesn’t always mean formal clothes, but it is more like appropriate for work meetings from home.
Look into the camera
A common mistake usually done when it comes to video call is looking at the video feed instead of the camera when speaking to a remote participant. Admit it, sometimes when you want to take a selfie, you look at yourself instead of looking straight into the front camera, right? But selfie is much different than professional video conference. While it may seem like the right thing to do, it actually makes it appear as if you’re looking off and not paying attention. This will make you come across as more aloof and less professional. Looking into the camera lens is the equivalent of looking into the person’s eyes, so practice doing so until you’re comfortable with it.
Well, hopefully what I have shared in this article is helpful for you during the quarantine. Remember this when you are going to start a video conference; pay attention. Stop checking emails or working on your PowerPoint presentation during video conferences. Not only does research suggest only 3% of people can multitask effectively, but you also look rude to your participants. Know the rules, and you will be fine.