Most of us have dramatically changed the way we do business since the beginning of March last year.

Businesses now rely on Zoom like they used to rely on employees coming into work each morning. Some of us have not seen each other in person in months or even all year, and yet we see each other on screen near daily.

Beyond business, families now get together regularly on Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Hangouts. Technology has truly been a saving grace in many isolating days this past year.

With that said, I have been surprised by the bad behavior of otherwise professional, courteous people when they join online calls – even now. At first, I thought it was the learning curve. But one year in, manners and courtesy on Zoom calls continue to be a problem.

Smacking gum, talking to people in the background, and folding laundry during meetings are not acceptable if you want to come across as well-mannered and professional.

Good manners are important, and just as important online as anywhere else. How you do anything is how you do everything. Inappropriate behavior could turn off a future client or partner without you even knowing it.

So today, I’ve put together a list of what it takes to show up to an online meeting with class, courtesy, and competence. We’ll also discuss the additional rules to follow when you host Zoom meetings to make them successful and productive.

Let’s jump right in with the courtesy, good manners, and professionalism you should display during online meetings:

• Dress like you would in person – Sure, you might be wearing loungewear more than you used to. But when you come to an online meeting, get dressed the same way you would as if it were an in-person meeting.
• Put effort into your appearance – Style your hair, put on some makeup, and again, look the way you would if you were getting together face-to-face.
• Think about your environment – What’s in the background when you’re on camera? Do you need another light on in the room? Take a moment before you join the meeting to notice how you will come across on screen.
• Minimize noise and distractions – If children are at home, go to the quietest place in the house. Don’t eat or chew gum during the meeting. Minimize movements so there isn’t a lot of shuffling, static noises. And by all means, stop typing! We can all hear you and we know you aren’t paying attention.
• Mute yourself by default – If you’re not speaking, it’s a good idea to mute yourself to minimize distracting noises until it is your turn to chime in.
• Use a photo if not video – If you don’t have the camera turned on, use a professional photo of yourself instead of a black screen. If you will be speaking at all during the meeting, use video so people will see you when you speak.
• In general, be professional – Some Zoom meetings are relaxed, whereas some are professional. But you can always show up like the professional that you are.

If you are the host, it’s even more important that you set the right tone for your meeting. Here are additional rules to follow to ensure that your meeting is productive and successful:

• Decide whether to meet at all – Before you send out the meeting request, consider whether you could accomplish your goal with an email or one-on-one phone call instead. If you decide it’s essential you come together in a meeting with a purpose, you’re already setting your meeting up for success.
• Set a start and end time – Once you have a timetable, stick to it so the meeting runs efficiently.
• Limit attendees to who needs to be there – Don’t invite the whole team unless you really need the whole team. Otherwise, it’s a waste of everyone’s time and productivity.
• Stay focused – Keep the spotlight in the meeting to one or two essential topics and save other business for another meeting, perhaps with a smaller group.
• Engage attendees – Let everyone announce themselves at the start of the call and encourage participation throughout. Think of it as a conversation, not a chance to give directives.
• Keep it positive – As a leader, you have an opportunity and a responsibility to maintain positivity and empathy toward your colleagues.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, what sets us apart is that we help business owners both develop the personal skills and qualities of leadership success, and implement systems that allow them to achieve better results more quickly.

Contact me today to find out how to build your legacy business with confidence.

Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus^TM” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with each client to implement the strategies they’ve been missing that will enable them to break through barriers preventing them from the success they know they are capable of. Contact me today to find your future clients who just don’t know what they’re missing.