- Currently Zoom has positioned itself as the leading platform for video-based communications.
- In just one quarter it manages to bill more than a billion dollars.
- Despite the virtual modality, meetings based on respect should always be promoted.
The forms of communication have been completely transformed thanks to technology. Now everything is different from how it was a few years ago and the virtual modality is becoming more and more frequent. At the same time, something that should not be lost under any circumstances is education and respect. With this in mind, one of your responsibilities is to promote inclusive business meetings.
In that sense, in the past we have offered you some tips for offering medical consultations online. But something you should take into account is that digital media not only work to be in contact with patients. They are also very useful to keep in touch with your collaborators.
The easiest way to hold meetings online
Now, although there are different platforms to fulfill this purpose, to date Zoom has positioned itself as a leader in video-based communications. According to Statista, it invoices more than a billion dollars per quarter. It has also been one of the companies that has grown the most during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among its advantages, the simplicity of the platform stands out. Everything is as easy as choosing a date and time and an invitation can be created immediately. In addition, it is not only designed to unite two people, but also large meetings can be held. While one of its main features is that it offers a free or paid subscription.
With this in mind, the days of always working face-to-face are long gone. For the same, if you want hold inclusive work meetings then try to follow the following five recommendations.
- Recognize co-workers. The ideal is to start a meeting with a greeting for all attendees. You should also ask them how they are to create a personal connection, even in a virtual environment. If someone joins a few minutes later you should quickly update them so that everyone is on the same page. Acknowledging colleagues can set a positive tone for the rest of the meeting.
- Give remote employees the floor first. If you’re running a meeting where employees are both in the office and connected remotely, it’s a good idea to allow remote participants to speak first so they feel recognized and included. When it comes time for post-discussion, ideally remote employees should talk back first, so they feel that their contributions are valued and that the meeting was worth their time.
- Allow privacy. It is necessary to encourage the use of virtual or blurred backgrounds so that no one feels uncomfortable showing their personal space. If it is a special occasion, such as a holiday, it is recommended to use the same virtual background as a team or company to recognize the event. In this way, feelings of union, belonging and camaraderie are increased.
- Be an active listener and advocate. Whether in a one-on-one meeting or in a large group, provide verbal and non-verbal cues to colleagues to show that you have their attention. Active listening gestures can take different forms, such as nodding your head, using emoji reactions, and sending a message through chat during the meeting. If you notice that a colleague reactivates the audio, but was unable to convey her point of view, comment on it and give her the floor. You can also hide your own view to minimize distractions and focus on the person speaking.
- Make it virtual, even if there are participants present at the venue. As hybrid environments become the norm, it can be more inclusive for all participants to join a meeting virtually, even if multiple people are in the same building.