9 Tips for Attending Online Meetings

I’m a bit less than business casual here . . .

1. Get ready ahead of time:
   • Dress at least business casual, from the waist up.
   • Make sure your face will be well-lit (position a light behind your monitor, or use a selfie light).
   • Have some water available in case you get thirsty
   • Make that bathroom stop prior to logging in.
   • Make sure that pets, children or other people will not be interrupting you
   • Consider your background (an unmade bed or a messy kitchen are distracting)
   • Mute your cell phone, if you aren’t using it to call in.
   • Have any notes, props or other items you might need handy
2. Log-on a little early to ensure the technology is cooperating for your audio and video. Find where the mute, chat and share functions are.
   
3. Mute Yourself when you aren’t talking. Remember to unmute when you want to talk.
   
4. Use the chat box to send a message to either an individual or to everyone.
   
5. Practice. Set up a practice session especially if you are sharing slides or your screen, and this is the first time you will have done so on the platform.
   
6. Look at the camera, not the screen, when presenting. For most of your presentation, look at the camera. That’s how you make eye contact.
   
7. Try to stay relatively still and attentive. Remember, everyone can see you.
   
8. Use hand signals (These are OK in the US, may not work in all cultures):
   • Cupped hand around ear—can’t hear/not loud enough or unmute!
   • Thumbs up: yes/good/approve
   • Thumbs down: no/not good/disapprove
   • Jazz hands or silent palm clap: applause
9. Be patient with technical glitches and human error. Smile!