One of the new changes that has resulted form COVID-19
is the move of work to the virtual. Included below are a list of changes that
may help you develop your video conferencing skills, as well as a few pointers
on manners when it comes to conversing on a video chat service like Zoom.
The first thing that you want to do is very simple: Arrive
early. This is something you would do normally in an everyday meeting, but
technology makes it easier to be late than ever. However, doing so reflects
poorly on you and forces the video chat to recap for you if you are late. (This
is assuming your office will allow you to come into the video chat late, let
alone taking the time to catch you up.)
The second thing that you must note is that you should
use video in your chat rather than simply relying on audio alone. Failing to
turn on your video is a big mistake and makes everyone on the call wonder what
it is you are doing that they can't see.
Third and finally, you cannot do more than one task at
once on your computer. Audio will pick up the clicks and typing, which will
disrupt the conversation. If you simply must multitask, or if you happen to
have a lot of background noise wherever you are while on a Zoom call, you may
want to mute your microphone.
In summary, what you need to do is to take the video
calls seriously, because for now, they are the main way that many people are
working. Gone are the days where loud dogs in the background are tolerated. It's
time to start adulting and being professional about your video conferencing.
