Virtual meetings face the same problems that meetings in person face however, they also face additional distractions and technological barriers. Luckily, you are able to run effective virtual meetings by following some simple meeting etiquette.

The importance of having an agenda is to running virtual meetings on time, and for keeping participants engaged throughout the meeting. It is also possible to encourage participants by asking open-ended questions, asking for feedback and assigning roles to take notes or record next steps.

Test any hardware or software that you might require prior to presenting. Be on time to resolve any technical issues that may arise prior the scheduled start time.

It’s difficult to discern body language and emotions when you’re not able to see the participants – so try to make eye contact or at a minimum, ask everyone to do so if they’re comfortable doing so. You should also choose a quiet space with no distractions https://boardroomkitchen.com/ so that you can give your full focus to the meeting. Turn off your microphone when you’re not speaking.

If you’re a moderator make sure you ask for feedback from the participants at the conclusion of the session. This will help identify areas that require improvement, and give the participants an understanding of how their input is valued. In the last two minutes of a session, it’s a good practice to summarize the next steps and also track any action items.