Life has changed rapidly in the past few months and one of the biggest adjustments to the pandemic has been the number of video conference meetings we attend each week. Video conferencing is not new, but its use has been accelerated due to travel and meeting restrictions. Whether you are a student, professional, or even enjoying retirement, video conferencing has quickly been integrated into our day-to-day lives.
As some of us are working from home, many of our normal professional standards have been relaxed during the pandemic. However, how we communicate with others should always reflect our personal brand with excellence.
There are many good video conferencing etiquette tips written that cover a multitude of components, but one of the most distracting and important is the setting or background. Where we choose to attend the video conference can enhance or detract from the quality of the meeting.
Please be aware to avoid noisy environments or a place where video conference participants can see other people moving in the background, pets, clutter, etc. Busy background walls or poor lighting can also reduce the effectiveness of your communication. This can be distracting for you as well as the other people on the conference call. Remember, effective communication is important. We want to be heard and listen to others on the call with minimal distractions.
Having been distracted myself on video conference calls, I have personally tried to minimize this by adjusting my office arrangement, background wall, lighting, and artwork to convey a professional, yet friendly space with minimal distractions.
Some recent studies reveal a large percentage of workers feel more productive at home and enjoy the flexibility of working remotely. In this work environment we understand it can be a little more casual, but we may want to be careful as being too casual can come off as sloppy and show a lack of professionalism. Being prepared and aware of your surroundings during a video conference is an easy and effective way to reflect your personal brand with excellence.
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