With the rise of a mobile workforce, virtual meetings are inevitable. Whether you have remote employees, a workforce spread across multiple branches, or you work with clients across the world, chances are you've had your fair share of virtual meetings. Here are some tips to hosting more productive and efficient virtual meetings:
PLAN AHEAD
As with any meeting, you want to start with an agenda. Having a clear idea of the information that needs to be presented as well as clearly defined goals will get you started on the track for success.
USE THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY
The right technology can create a sense of community. While conference calls and emails work well for short, precise exchanges of information, it rarely suffices for meetings where multiple opinions and ideas are exchanged. Videoconferencing allows for real time, face-to-face communication regardless of distance - providing a foundation for clear communication and a greater sense of camaraderie between participants.
ENGAGE EMPLOYEES
Even in traditional meetings, presenters that ramble on with little to no visual content can ruin a meeting. To avoid this, it's a good idea to create a multimedia presentation that can be used to further convey your points and capture and maintain attention. Make sure your remote attendees benefit from this as well with collaboration software that allows all attendees to view the same content in real time.
CLOSE WITH A PLAN IN PLACE
You've done it - you've made it to the end of your agenda, gathered some innovative ideas, and generated enthusiasm around your project. Before everyone goes their separate ways, determine the next steps and who is going to take responsibility for them. This will keep the momentum going until your next meeting!
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