Video Meeting Etiquette You Should Know

Knowing how to behave during a video call meeting/conference is important. The need for proper behaviour has led to the development of rules on how participants should act in video conferences and meetings. 

 

These are seven standard etiquettes during video meetings:

 

1. Be prepared

Just like a physical meeting, video meetings also require preparation. Some ways to plan for a video meeting include:

• Knowing the agenda

The organizers and participants of a video meeting should be aware of the purpose of the meeting. An agenda will create a clear outline and facilitate participants to cover the discussion within the designated time.

• Get your equipment and tools ready.

The right tools and equipment are the best way to maximize video conferencing fully. The equipment and tools for the meeting include both hardware and software. Some of the most critical video meeting tools are internet access, a video software platform, a webcam and a microphone.

 

2. Don’t be late

Time is valuable. Most employees prefer to save time as many things can be done during work hours. It is crucial to be punctual and respect the video meeting participants. In a study, 67% of employees mentioned that half the meetings they attend aren’t valuable. It is mainly due to the late start times of those meetings. 

 

3. Do a test run

Many things can go wrong during a video meeting. A test run can help prevent glitches during a session or fix what needs to be fixed before the video meeting starts. It is always a good idea to ensure that your hardware and software run smoothly before the session begins.

Some test runs you can do include:

• Making sure your camera is at eye level
• Check your internet connection
• Test your speakers
• Check your microphone.

 

4. Make Sure You Have a Proper Background

The background area during a video meeting says a lot about your personality. A messy background with clutter can give a wrong impression. Fortunately, for people who need help finding a suitable background area in their house, video conference platforms also offer a wide range of virtual backgrounds to choose from. There are also apps such as wave.video that provides a variety of virtual background. 

Other ways to create a good background are:

• Choose the best-organized space.
• Light up your background.
• Use decorations.

 

5. Dress Properly

Research published in the Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences summarized that people who dress appropriately are perceived more positively than those who don’t. Although there are many advantages of working from home, improper dressing during video meetings should be avoided as this will affect the outlook and leave a bad impression towards the participants. You should avoid wearing shorts under your suit, wearing something see-through, and wearing nightgowns.

 

6. Avoid noisy environment

The audio quality of a video meeting can either make or break the whole session. To effectively engage with the participants, the audio must be crisp and clear to help convey the message better and allow better communication.

It is, however, understandable that not everyone has the luxury of a quiet environment, especially participants with families and kids. In this case, the participants can get a headset to help cancel out the background noise.

 

7. Avoid distractions

One downside of video meetings is that participants can easily get distracted. 88% of workers admitted to normalizing multitasking while in a video conference or meeting. Attending video conferences from your home, vehicle, or any other location can come with many distractions. Children and other family members can be a huge source of distraction for those in the house. For others attending the conference from outside their homes, traffic and other surrounding movement are sources of distraction. 

 

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