Effective virtual meeting skills
Here’s how to use effective meeting skills over virtual platforms.
In this time of virtually connecting with our teams or Big Rooms it is more important than ever to remember to use effective meeting skills. It can be harder virtually but here are some hints and tips in addition to the usual Flow Coaching Academy advice, that will help your meetings be more productive and engaging.
Assign Roles
In addition to Leader, Facilitator, Time Keeper and Note Taker you may want to include ‘Tech Support’ to troubleshoot any issues quickly without derailing.
Meeting Norms
Meeting norms should be co-created with the team at the outset, because for them to work everyone has to own them. For example; should you say your name or raise your hand at the end of an agenda segment to get attention if you have a question or comment. These should then be included in each meeting invitation and at the top of the agenda.
Check In
It is even more important in a virtual meeting that you acknowledge everyone in the room. Don’t just launch straight in, take the time at the start for a role call and use check-ins or ice breakers to build relationships, as you would in a physical meeting.
Eye Contact
You make eye contact virtually by looking into the camera not necessarily at the other participants, and definitely not at yourself!
Clear Aims
Every meeting should have a clear objective and agenda – this is even more important virtually as it ensures everyone knows exactly where their question or comment belongs in the meeting, and can help stop the meeting getting side-tracked or multiple people speaking at once.
