Tips for effective digital meetings:

1. Connect a few minutes early so that the meeting can start at the agreed time.
2. Make sure you have tested your connection and that the camera and microphone are working before you connect.
3. You may want to test all settings and equipment with a colleague, to ensure that your first meeting with a customer or other external party runs smoothly.
4. Documents can be shared via OneDrive or MS Teams, for example, so that several people can open a document and edit it at the same time. This can be an effective way of working together during workshops.
5. Make sure everyone can join the video call (before connecting), as this gives a better feeling of everyone being involved.
6. Let everyone say hello and introduce themselves (if there are new people). Set aside a few minutes at the beginning for small talk. As more and more people work remotely, social interaction is becoming increasingly important.
7. Draw up an agenda for the meeting and send it to the participants in advance. It may be worth appointing a moderator or a manager who can ensure that the agenda is followed and everyone has their say.
8. Many digital services offer the option of recording. This can be useful when writing meeting minutes.
9. Book short meetings, otherwise it may be hard to stay focused in front of the screen.
10. Be present during the meeting, and avoid e-mailing or checking your phone until after the meeting.
11. Last but not least, be careful not to lean too close to the screen. Look straight at the camera, as this will allow you to make eye contact with the people you are talking to.

Do you need any help getting started with working digitally and finding the best services for your organisation? If so, please don’t hesitate to contact us!