Working from home has put an abrupt end to
face to face meetings. Zoom & Skype calls are the order of the day. There
is a level of etiquette that applies to these conference calls. Lack of
adherence to some basics may result in you being deemed unprofessional and this
will do some harm to your personal brand. Here are a few points to take note of
during these calls:
- Internet connection
The title of this piece is inspired by what
often happens during a call when someone has a bad connection. Their audio is
fuzzy, they get randomly cut from the call and then they come charging back
while a colleague is still speaking. While people may sympathize with the
technical challenges the person is facing, it is advisable to highlight any
connection challenges at the start of the meeting. The participants of the call
will likely be a bit more understanding & accommodating.
2. Appearance
First point is to dress appropriately, you
may be dressed casual but make sure your clothes are smudge free, clean &
ironed. Then ensure that your background is well kept and orderly. This
includes your table as well, put away anything that does not need to feature in
the video.
3. Sound quality
Whatever room you are using, ensure there is
no background noise such as a fan, TV or kids playing. Go a step further and
have your cell phone on silent. This will allow the audience on the call to
hear you clearly and give you their full attention. Last thing you need is a
colleague throwing you off by saying “Sorry, there is some shuffling sound that
comes in as you speak”. Once you have shared your comments, take care to mute
your mic when it is not your turn. There are few things as embarrassing as
being told “Tim, please mute your mic. Your typing is causing a disturbance.
Thanks.”
Be intentional about how you are perceived,
your behaviour feeds directly into your personal brand.
