You are probably spending more time in online meetings than usual at the moment and the risk is that you are not getting the most out of it. After all, it's not like meeting in person, the technology lets you down and when you meet online you're likely to be distracted. To make sure your online meetings run smoothly, we have listed some important tips for you.
1. Create a clear agenda
Make sure that it is clear in advance what the meeting is about, what points will be discussed and who will (have to) be present. Also clearly communicate what is expected from the participants. Do they have to prepare something? Do they have to read up on a certain subject? This will prevent the beginning of the meeting from being taken up with resolving uncertainties and answering questions about the reason for the online meeting.
2. Make sure you have everything set properly
At least as important as a good agenda is that the technology is also in order. Do you have the settings of your video meeting tool right, is the microphone working, is the camera working, do you have a good internet connection? Of course, it works best if everyone is visibly in the picture and can hear everything. For example, you can use the options to share your screen or do an online demo.
3. Pay attention to the time
The attention span of an online meeting is generally somewhat shorter than when you meet in real life. You should therefore take this into account when planning the meeting. If you think you will need four hours, it is better to spread the meeting over two moments. This prevents you or the other participants from losing attention and concentration at the halfway point. It also helps to divide the meeting into specific time slots in which you want to deal with subjects. That way, everyone knows in advance where he or she stands.
4. Conclude with concrete goals and actions
Many meetings end full of good intentions and promises, but there is a chance that tasks are forgotten or misinterpreted. Therefore, always end with concrete goals and actions. What is expected from whom? Then you also give them the opportunity to ask questions if something is not clear.
Need help?
Do you need help from our specialists in areas such as online meetings or telemarketing? Then contact us, and together we can look at what the best way is for your company.