We\u2019re no longer in the throes of an economic shutdown, but the virtual meetings that
\nresulted from it are not going away. Online conferences on platforms such as Zoom and
\nGoToMeeting will remain part of the way we do business, if only because they\u2019re easy to set
\nup, convenient to attend, and require no gas purchases at today\u2019s inflated prices. Virtual
\nmeetings can be an effective way to share information and make presentations to clients
\nand customers, staff, and outside organizations you work with.<\/p>\n
Like it or not, online meets are a part of business life today. Therefore, you want to be as
\nskillful handling virtual meetings as you are in all the other aspects of your work. To make
\nmeaningful connections in these online confabs, here are some things the experts say you
\nshould focus on.<\/p>\n
Make sure the meeting has an assigned host and put together an agenda. Be sure to leave
\nfive to fifteen minutes at the end for people to engage in informal conversation. With larger
\nmeetings you can set this informal time up as smaller groups in breakout rooms.<\/p>\n
Instead of thinking of your computer webcam or the front-facing camera on your tablet or
\nsmartphone as a thing to talk to, think of it as a person you want to have listen to you.
\nImagine the camera is someone in the virtual meeting\u2014a client, prospect, external partner,
\nor someone on your team. Or, think of the camera as someone outside the meeting whom
\nyou want to impress\u2014a mentor or even a spouse, for example.<\/p>\n
You won\u2019t achieve your goal in a virtual meeting by just conveying information. If that were
\nthe case, you could just text or email people the key facts. You\u2019re meeting with folks
\nvirtually to communicate the value of what you\u2019re proposing. You want to come across as a
\ndynamic communicator people can connect with.<\/p>\n
The platforms for virtual meetings can include pointers and tools that let you make
\ncomments on slides and highlight text. You can also avail yourself of whiteboards to get
\nyour points across and to let those at the meeting collaborate with each other in real time.
\nAlso, take advantage of the chat box. When you\u2019re making a presentation, don\u2019t be afraid to
\nbreak off every so often to respond to a comment you see in the chat.<\/p>\n
To keep people\u2019s attention, break up the cascade of slides in your PowerPoint presentation.
\nCut away from the PowerPoint, go back on camera, and bring in some physical objects to
\nmake your points.<\/p>\n