Remote meetings are a crucial part of collaboration, especially for teams that are distributed. But they can be less efficient than meetings in person when you don’t adhere to the proper etiquette for meetings. Virtual meetings can benefit from a variety of the same techniques used for in-person meetings to make them more effective and enjoyable. Here are 13 tips from Forbes Coaches Council members on how to conduct successful remote meetings:
1. Use an agenda.
To avoid getting lost in the conversation, begin your meeting with an organized agenda. If possible, create the agenda prior to the meeting with feedback from the attendees, and present it at beginning of the session.
2. Encourage everyone to speak to one another.
Some people aren’t keen to join online meetings because they fear that they will be interrupted. To counter this, consider using a specialized conference call microphone and camera that can help block out background noises and also amplify everyone’s voice equally. Always ask questions or remarks at the end of the conference to ensure that everyone is heard.
3. Concentrate on action items, and follow-up.
Meetings usually end with vague action items, and no clear plan for follow-up. To avoid this, agree on how the actions will be documented and followed-up at the beginning of the meeting, and review them at the end of the meeting. It is also possible to schedule one-onone follow-up meetings or a team meeting within a realistic timeframe.