Discipline isn’t a dirty word. Far from it. Discipline is the one thing that separates us from chaos and anarchy. Discipline implies timing. It’s the precursor to good behavior, and it never comes from bad behavior. People who associate discipline with punishment are wrong: with discipline, punishment is unnecessary.
Buck Brannaman
If you haven’t been in a zoom meeting before, it’s perfectly normal not to know how to behave in one. To be honest, not many people know what is expected of them either, and this is understandable seeing that attending virtual meetings is a relatively new and strange concept that most people are struggling to adapt to.
Nonetheless, virtual meetings are here to stay and the sooner we get used to them, the better it will be for everyone.
So, what is expected of you during your first zoom meeting? Here’s a bit of advice from Atlanta-based home care coach, Coach Michele Ellis-Williams:
- Be Punctual and dress appropriately
“Being punctual for a meeting, whether virtual or not, shows that you respect others and value their time, and this is a sure sign of professionalism. Professionalism, for those who didn’t know, is a powerful quality to have and those who exhibit it are usually viewed with a lot of respect and admiration by their peers and acquaintances,” points out Coach Michele. “And of course, professionalism demands a professional appearance – dress conservatively, the same way you would dress if you were attending an in-person meeting.”
- Take control of possible technical disruptions and malfunctions:
“Technical distractions and malfunctions can transform your upcoming zoom meeting from a valuable engagement to total frustration. While some technical disruptions may be out of your control, there’s always something you can do to improve things, especially when it comes to webcam and microphone glitches,” continues the home care coach.
“My advice to anyone who hasn’t been to a zoom meeting before is to practice and practice more with a willing friend in the days or hours leading up to the anticipated meeting. This will familiarize you with everything you may need to do to achieve a technologically seamless zoom meeting.”
“Your chances of having a smooth virtual meeting will get higher with practice, and this includes finding the speaking volume that works well for a productive meeting – anything too high or too low definitely won’t work. It’s also your responsibility to control any unwanted or background noise coming from your location, and I would advise you to always mute your microphone when you’re done speaking.”
- Avoid distractions and be aware of your body language
“Being courteous, polite, and attentive will obviously be expected of anyone who has been invited to a meeting of any kind. So, to be on your best behavior, you must avoid all likely distractions, including your mobile phone, the television, and persons who may be in the room for any reason. Your acquaintances expect nothing less than 100% of your involvement or participation, and anything short of that will obviously irritate them,” advises Coach Michele.
“Also, your body language during the meeting will say a lot about your professionalism, and it is advisable to always maintain a good posture throughout the meeting – absolutely no slouching or swiveling on your chair, eating (drinking water is acceptable), chewing gum, or engaging in any other funny and unprofessional behavior,” concludes the home care coach.
Good luck with your upcoming zoom meeting and any future meetings you may have! If you have any questions you would love to ask, feel free to get in touch.
Coach Michele is the CO-Founder of Michele Lee Ellis Consulting, LLC (MLEC), an Atlanta based consulting firm that specializes in teaching and training aspiring entrepreneurs to start and grow 6-figure businesses.
Phone number: 888-462-8885
Office Phone Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9:30 am-6: 30 pm EST
Website – Michele Lee Ellis Consulting, LLC
YouTube channel @ I am Coach Michele
