Essay On Video Conferencing

The rise in popularity of video conferencing in the work place, thanks to software such as Blue Jeans which makes it easy to schedule meetings online, has led to numerous articles and debates on proper video conferencing etiquette. Everybody knows by now about looking directly into the webcam to simulate eye contact and dressing appropriately even for a remote interview. Everybody even knows not to wear stripey clothes while video conferencing as it creates a strobe effect on camera. Even so, there are still many small but significant pieces of video conferencing etiquette that are easy to forget about and many people are guilty of, usually without realizing. Here are just a few that you can improve upon to make an impact in your next online

Modern microphones can pick up anything including the sounds of people eating. Doing this with a microphone too close to your mouth can be incredibly off putting to the person on the other end. If you are working remotely, reschedule lunch meetings, spend your lunch hour away from your computer, and at the very least mute your microphone when you are eating, even if it is just a snack during a meeting. Your colleagues and clients will be grateful.
2. Include Everyone
When you are not all sat around a table together, it can be too easy to forget about someone and leave them out of the meeting. If you are unfamiliar with your conferencing software, you could also mute them or even kick them out of the meeting without meaning to. If you are running an online meeting, try to make everybody feel included and ensure that every attendee has had a chance to share their work or express their opinion. If they are left out by accident, apologize so that they know it wasn’t done on purpose. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be much point in inviting them to the meeting in the first place.
3. Get the Lighting