Have a friend video chat with you to make sure you can hear and be heard and see and be seen. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the program and make sure you know the basics—especially how to mute and unmute your microphone. Empathetic responses are also crucial in building rapport during small talk. Empathy involves understanding and sharing the other person’s feelings and perspectives. By demonstrating empathy, you can establish a connection with the other person and create a positive atmosphere.
When you call someone on Google Duo, their face will take up most of the screen, restricting your video feed to a little bubble at the side of the display. You can adjust how you appear on your own screen by moving or expanding that bubble. In the mobile app, tap Settings, then Meeting, to find the Always Show Video Preview option. In the apps for Windows and macOS, click the cog icon (top left) and then Video to make sure you always see a preview. This should ensure that your webcam is pointed in the right direction, at least. If you’d like to have a few sparse notes for your interview, make sure you also have them out during your practice.
When everyone logs in a few minutes early and sticks to the agenda, hybrid meetings start and end on time. For more strategies on running effective online meetings, explore our ultimate guide to digital meetings and additional remote work tips to improve collaboration across distributed teams. Through your company’s videoconferencing program, you’ll have access to a variety of tools designed to make meetings more productive. For example, the “raise hand” function helps participants signal they have something to say, and breakout rooms can help teams brainstorm or collaborate in smaller groups. The chat function is also helpful for people who have trouble thinking on the spot or introverts who may be more hesitant to speak up. If your face is covered in shadows or there’s a glare, it can be hard for others to really connect with you on screen.
Contents
Test Your Technology Before The Meeting
One of Google Duo’s coolest features, called Knock Knock, provides a preview of your caller’s video feed (if they are already in your contacts). This lets you check out their circumstances, without them seeing you before you pick up. However, because it kicks in before a call has even begun, this feature can gobble up cellular data even faster than usual.
This is the hardest video conference habit to build and the most impactful one. Looking at participant faces on your screen feels like eye contact — but from their perspective, you’re looking down or to the side. True eye contact in a video conference means looking directly at the camera lens. To learn more, check out the top video meeting apps for teams and download the video conference camera comparison guide next. And remember that if you’re working from different time zones, energy levels will be different.
Host more productive online meetings and successfully collaborate with the following essential video conferencing tips. Many video conferencing software platforms now offer AI tools that make it much easier to connect with your audience. Additionally, AI-related visual settings like auto-framing and speaker focus also help you look polished on screen without having to worry about constant adjustments.
Once everyone’s present, you should transition clearly into the meeting’s purpose. State what you’re there to decide or accomplish, which signals competence and gives participants a clear framework for how they can contribute. Leading a virtual meeting requires more facilitation than leading an in-person session. Without the energy of a physical space, the meeting’s tone depends on how you open, manage participation, and close.
- The other meeting attendees might forget remote participants are there unless they assert themselves from time to time.
- Give your team members the opportunity to be in the leadership position by rotating positions.
- For example, if you’re collaborating on a document, use the shared notes or editing features to work together in real time.
While business etiquette rules matter in all workplaces, forming functional team norms is especially important in remote and hybrid environments. Providing guidelines prevents misunderstandings and helps remote workers interact during digital meetings instead of merely observing. Before the meeting even starts, it’s important to ensure you’re comfortable with the video conferencing software and equipment. A smooth presentation depends on you knowing how to share your screen, adjust audio and video settings and use the platform’s features without fumbling in front of the audience.
Encourage team members to share pictures, videos, and GIFs on your company’s messaging software. Practice good virtual meeting etiquette by wrapping up on a clear, positive note. These steps turn a productive session into workplace momentum while keeping teams aligned on goals. It’s a best practice to check your internet connectivity, hardware, and software before meetings. When virtual meeting rooms and on-site workspaces connect seamlessly, meetings start on time, have fewer distractions, and are more effective.
Prepare Like You Would For An Interview Irl
In fact, videos tend to accentuate the messages our bodies send because there are fewer distractions to focus on in general. These things may seem simple, but properly setting your stage will determine the tone of your conversation. The nonverbals of an organized and streamlined setup sends a strong first impression.
What Should I Focus On First To Improve My Virtual Meetings?
This simple step prevents last-minute disruptions and reflects professionalism. Sign up for an account to start practicing with Talk to Tally, or take our free Business English Assessment to identify your specific communication gaps. This transition from small talk to substance sets expectations and tells everyone how to show up for the conversation. This two-minute investment eliminates the mental scrambling that happens when you’re put on the spot during the meeting.
The goal is even illumination with no harsh shadows from above (overhead-only lighting) and no silhouetting from behind. This is particularly important because remote employees attend 50% more meetings than their in-office peers, per Flowtrace. The proliferation of “just loop in everyone” meeting culture is the primary driver of video call fatigue. Make sure there is nothing distracting going on in the background that could draw the person’s attention away from what you are saying. Try to find a JapansDates review space with a blank backdrop, solid colored wall, or part of your home without too much going on behind you. You can even try adding a custom Zoom background image to your next video call.
Online meeting etiquette ensures team members respect speaking turns and stick to the topics and time allocated to them. Clear audio isn’t just about stable internet and well-placed microphones. Virtual meeting etiquette prevents people from talking over others and creating distractions. When everyone’s in the same room, conversations are easier to follow. Seventy-seven percent of workers say they’ve lost time because technical problems delayed an online meeting.
Oh, and you might also want to set up a virtual background, if you don’t have time to tidy up your space. If you aren’t familiar with the additional expectations placed upon you when you’re a part of a business video conference call, that’s okay. We’re here to help you learn the dos and don’ts of video conferencing etiquette. The shift to hybrid and remote work has inextricably ingrained video conferencing into the modern business world. Next-generation video conferencing technology like – Owl Labs’ ecosystem of devices – makes hybrid meetings more immersive and natural for everyone. When you interview in person, there’s a period where the interview has started, but it hasn’t started.
If you are not ready to buy new equipment, close doors to reduce echo, turn off fans during calls, and keep your microphone about six inches from your mouth. These are the settings-level adjustments specific to the three platforms that handle most of the world’s video conferences. Zoom’s research found that 46% of leaders believe they spend too much time in meetings, and 57% say they would use canceled meeting time more productively. The most effective long-term video conference tip is not improving how you attend calls — it’s reducing the number of unnecessary calls you attend. Meeting fatigue is real — 49% of remote professionals report significant video call fatigue on a weekly basis, per Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab research. The temptation after a video conference is to immediately shift to the next task.
Chamet provides a direct call setting where these questions to ask on video chat can become an actual exchange rather than a checklist. Whether you’re preparing for virtual interviews, client meetings, or remote collaboration, our expert insights and career solutions help you stay ahead. Recognizing these pitfalls helps you apply video conferencing tips more effectively. Our voice-based AI coach, Talk to Tally, gives you instant feedback as you practice before important meetings.
Before you’ve finalized your outfit and location, see if anything in your shot is reflecting or giving off a glare that might be distracting to your interviewer. The main culprits are usually watches, jewelry, and eyeglasses, and solving the issue might be as easy as removing one accessory. Remember to be attentive and actively listen to the responses, allowing the conversation to flow naturally.
The right video conferencing tips and habits do more than prevent fatigue. They keep discussions focused, strengthen collaboration across time zones, and support inclusive participation, giving remote teammates the same visibility and voice as those in the room. This guide covers 15 actionable video conference best practices for 2026, plus strategies for handling common challenges, acing video interviews, and upgrading your hybrid meeting setup. Seeing each other on video can help remote and hybrid teams build stronger connections, but off days happen, and not every leader requires cameras for all calls. Practice professional meeting etiquette by dropping a note in the meeting channel or messaging the host if you can’t be on camera. Icebreakers play a crucial role in creating a comfortable and friendly environment during video conferencing.