What is the Correct Videocall ?
What is the Correct Videocall ?
Times change and meetings that usually took place at the office surrounded by your workmates now make us use our screen.
Almost a year ago, life was different and our work life too. Usually workers would go to their offices and work on-site, where they would have their individual office, desk or where they would attend office meetings, often in a specific meeting room for that kind of purpose. In between, they would have a coffee, talk to their workmates, say hi to their boss, etc. Lots of things happened since back then. Now a year later, that system has taken a 180º turn. The COVID-19 pandemic happened and as it spread as fast a lightning, people had to take special measures all over the world. All of a sudden, companies and workers had to adapt, get hold of computing ressources like computers, etc. and set everything up for working at home.
In almost record time, we were forced to adapt to a "new reality" and start getting familiar with another way of working, through the screen, with the advantages and exigencies this entails. Suddenly we had to adapt and go from traditional on-site meetings to attend those through videoconferences. As everything else we're beginers at, making mistakes is normal, and due to our lack of experience, we may have messed it up more than once.
Were you also so into your work with your laptop and you suddenly got into a meeting you totally forgot about? Did you switch the camera on and you were wearing your pijamas or something similar and had not even combed your hair? Did your connection fail at the last minute? Did you get into the conference and your image looked deformed or the sound system made weird noises? There are many mistakes we may make when doind a videocall. Sometimes it may be caused by lack of practice, sometimes by lack of knowledge, but all of them are easy to solve.
Although it looks easy, don't forget you need to keep a protocol in terms of work related procedures. Even if you work from home, it does not mean you can overlook some minimal requirements when participating in a business videocall.
Essential rules for the correct videocall:
- First, you need to prepare the physical space you're going to connect from. You need to try to work in an open space, with good lighting and good internet connection.
- Although some companies allow their employees to get into virtual meetings without connecting their webcam, it is more than advisable to get into a meeting and connect it so people can actually see you.
- It is also important to keep a proper dress code. While there is no need to wear a button down and a tie, dressing professionnally is a key to keep into account.
- Select the best tool for your videocall. There are plenty of platforms available, so it is convenient to dig a little until you can tell which one suits your needs the best. Once selected, check everything works properly.
- A few minutes before the meeting starts, prepare the topic you're going to talk about, you must be prepared always, but even more so when teleworking.
- During the meeting it is also important to control the camera's angle and keep an interested attitude, both through facial expressions and hand gestures.
- As an extra tip, during the time lapses you don't participate, you may mute your microphone to not interfere with possible external noises.