In today’s fast-paced landscape, virtual meetings have become a cornerstone of communication. However, effectively leading and participating in virtual meetings can present a set of unique challenges.

One of the most significant hurdles is participant engagement. Often, when we attend virtual meetings, we find ourselves only partially engaged.

Have you ever caught yourself doing any of the following?

· keeping your camera off?

· having your email or chat up and actively replying and sending messages?

· partially listening as you do something else?

I think most of us are guilty of these at some point.

And many of us are frustrated by virtual meetings, thinking they are a waste of time, however, we need to ask:

“Are we contributing to these meetings being a waste of time?”

While it's true that some virtual meetings are poorly facilitated, we also have a role to play in their effectiveness. Let's take the initiative to be better virtual participants.

Be a better virtual participant.

Turn on your camera.

Take pity on the meeting host. It is so tough to talk to a computer screen of names, initials or dots. Facial expressions help convey understanding and engagement, so turning on your camera can make a significant difference.

Come prepared.

Familiarize yourself with the meeting agenda and any pre-meeting materials. This preparation allows you to actively contribute to discussions instead of asking questions that were already addressed in the provided information.

Keep chat on topic.

The chat feature can be useful, but it can also lead to distractions when side conversations dominate. Focusing on typed messages can divert your attention from the main conversation, leading to disengagement and frustration.

Log on early.

Arrive a few minutes before the meeting begins to ensure your camera and sound settings are functioning correctly. This proactive step ensures you're ready to participate as soon as the meeting starts.

Use mute.

Unless there are only a few participants, keep yourself muted when you aren’t speaking so there is no extraneous noise or feedback coming from your end.

Stay focused.

Minimize distractions by turning off notifications and finding a quiet environment. Devote your full attention to the meeting, avoiding the urge to multitask.

Participate Actively

While it's tempting to be a passive observer, engaging in discussions can improve the meeting's flow, and your overall experience. Active participation benefits not only you, but also the meeting organizer, preventing them from feeling like the teacher in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

Remember, the success of virtual meetings isn't solely in the hands of the organizer; participants have a vital role to play as well. Let's make the most of our virtual interactions by becoming better virtual meeting contributors.

What else can you do?

Read my latest blog post about how to lead an effective virtual meeting.
talk with your team about team meeting expectations and create a meeting engagement agreement
pick one thing from this newsletter to practice in your next virtual meeting

Webcam to Wow: 7 Tips for Effective Virtual Meeting Participation