During this time many people have transitioned well into working from home, but there is one reoccurring dreadful task: the weekly virtual meeting. For many people, it’s just not that enjoyable. The connection fails, different people are talking at the same time and suddenly you realize that your mind has drifted off to other topics and you’re wondering what to cook for dinner.
If virtual meetings create stress in your life, Minetum offers a Stress Management Training Day.
During this day you will learn how the demand for flexibility and readiness to adapt in the workplace can create stress and how you can prevent and manage it.
Virtual meetings are very different from face to face meetings, but they can be equally productive. Minetum is offering 5 pieces of advice on how to be more engaged during a virtual meeting.
1. Be prepared for the meeting
Before the meeting begins, it’s a good idea to determine what you want to get out of the meeting. Make a list with topics that you’d like to contribute, or questions that you need answers to. Ask yourself what the purpose of the meeting is so you can match your expectations accordingly.
When you have clear expectations of what you’d like to get out of the meeting, it becomes easier to listen and pay close attention. This will help you in future meetings too, as you improve your listening and concentration skills.
2. Listen closely
Virtual meetings can be hard, as it’s difficult to keep the conversation running smoothly. It’s important that everyone focuses on listening carefully, as the meeting will be more productive then.
If you forget to listen to other participants and interrupt to make on your own point it will slow down the meeting, as people feel that they have to repeat earlier points to feel understood. This situation becomes even worse in a virtual meeting because it’s so easy to accidentally talk at the same time.
This situation can easily be avoided. Before making your point, repeat what you just heard and making sure that you understood the statement correctly. This helps the conversation flow better as everyone will feel heard and therefore listen more actively to one another.
3. Provide a bigger picture
If you have a leadership position, perhaps you can guide the conversation and make it flow better. Establish a connection between what different participants are saying, restate it, and ask clarifying questions. This way you can help others understand the bigger picture and make sure that the conversation continues to be productive.
4. Force yourself to concentrate
It is completely natural for the human mind to wander, and this will most likely happen during a virtual meeting too. When this happens try to return your attention to the meeting. It can be helpful to write down your distractive thought on a piece of paper so it’s out of your mind, and you can return to it after the meeting if you wish to process it later.
5. Ask Questions
It can be hard to return to the conversation when you have gotten distracted. Take a moment to get an idea of where the conversation has headed, while you were out, and if you’re still not following don’t be afraid to ask a clarifying question. You can even admit that you lost track of the conversation for a moment, as others are probably in the same situation and need clarification too.
By following these 5 tips, Minetum believes you can make virtual meetings a better and more productive experience.
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