The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed more businesses to move towards more flexible working arrangements. In this new business climate, the need for new tools and better ways of working from home has become clear. Video conferencing, in particular, is becoming the new norm for collaborating with coworkers or even keeping in touch with employees. Doing this the right way requires some readjustments.
Taking some time to reflect on better ways to video conference will help you save time and keep your calls productive. When you video conference with ease, you will also be able to adjust to this new business norm and better align your business with the trend. Finally, you can expect that by video conferencing the right way, you can still maintain a sense of professionalism within your teams.
Best Practices for Video Conferencing
So, let’s look at seven specific tips that will make your video conferencing better.
Set An Appropriate Environment
Whether intended or not, video conferencing is giving us a more intimate look at how our colleagues live. When it comes to working within a business, however, it is important to maintain an air of professionalism, even when working from home. Make sure that you give some thought to your background environment, i.e. what your colleagues will see in the video conference.
Look Professional
Beyond your environment itself, it is also important for you to look presentable when you are in a business-related video conference. It can be tempting, especially in these extended months of quarantine, to let things slide when it comes to business attire. However, looking professional puts off the impression that you are taking the work seriously, and you should expect the same of your colleagues.
Remove Distractions
Working in your home office presents many new challenges. One of the biggest adjustments is blocking out the many distractions that arise in the course of a day. While you will still have to answer the door or take phone calls, it is important to set these distractions aside while you are video conferencing with colleagues.
Record Video Conferences
You can expect that each of your colleagues and employees will have varying levels of internet speed and capacity. Frequent cut-outs or choppiness in communication caused by a poor internet connection can make video conferencing very difficult. Recording the conversation and distributing it afterwards allows everyone to be on the same page.
Read The Manual
Many people simply accept the default settings of the most popular video conferencing applications without thinking about other features. However, there is a wealth of customisation and option-toggling that can make your experience much better. Look through the software manual to discover any features that will suit the needs of your business more directly.
Use A High-Quality Microphone
If you want to be sure that everyone can hear you clearly, do not rely on the built-in microphone on your laptop. Invest in a better microphone and headphones to allow yourself to hear and be heard effectively.
Remote Access Desktop
While many of us cannot work directly alongside our colleagues at the moment, sharing screens and allowing your desktop to controlled remotely is a close substitute. Try using these features to quickly explain a new software program to someone or to help them see more clearly what steps are involved in a particular task.
Conclusion
These seven tips are a great way to boost the success of your business video conferencing. Do not get complacent when it comes to using these tools. Use these easy fixes to make the experience much more comfortable, pleasant, and professional.
