5 Guidance Points to Mastering Virtual Meetings

Social distancing has forced many industry leaders, including property management companies, to conduct business virtually when connecting with their team members and residents. Although communicating via Zoom is not quite the same as face-to-face interaction, during times like these, video conferencing can improve the quality of communication rather than traditional emailing. 

Fortunately, there are many technologies available that make conducting virtual meetings both easy and effective. Here are a few ways to effectively conduct virtual meetings while working remotely.
Stay connected
Just as you would in the office, it’s important to connect with your teams on a human level.  Take a few moments at the start of the video conference to check in and to see how they are doing. It can be challenging and sometimes isolating to work from home, but by bringing a human element to your conversations you can provide reassurance and support.
Leave time for feedback
In an effort to make sure all of your team members are on the same page, make sure to allow time for questions and feedback at the end of your virtual meeting.  Additionally, encourage them to raise their hand or use chat boxes when they have a question or comment.
Keep a record
Keeping a record of your virtual meeting may be helpful for members who can not be in attendance, so they can stay in the loop on what was discussed. Most video conferencing systems give you the option to easily record meetings. All you have to do is click the “Record” button at the beginning of the meeting, and you’ll receive a recording and written transcript afterward.
Make sure you are in a quiet space
Though it’s impossible to eliminate outside noises completely, especially if some of your team members are working with kids at home too, try to find a quiet place to take your video conferencing calls.  One way you can optimize your audio is by using earbuds so you don’t get distracted by the noise happening inside your home. You can also hit the mute/unmute button, to cut back on your contribution to unwanted sounds.
Familiarize yourself with the technology
If you are new to video conferencing, it’s important to know how to use the meeting platform before jumping on a call.  Check your settings and security options and adjust them accordingly.  When it’s time to host a meeting, you won’t waste valuable time trying to figure out how to fix your background or audio.  You could even test your meeting platform out with a family member to work out the kinks. 
The good thing about virtual meetings is, no matter what industry you work in, you can still conduct business and connect with your team effectively and have fun at the same time.   ​