Currently, online meetings have become a mainstream way of holding business consultations. Virtual meetings are becoming an acceptable means of communication in business today. Many have even gotten these modules set up for them with help from company that handles Business IT Support Melbourne requires to make this work best for them, and as a whole this has worked very well for most people. The model, which previously had a lukewarm acceptance, has become a necessity and caught many people off guard.
However, many business people are not well versed with online business meeting etiquette. I have come across people in online meetings who tend to engage in unethical behavior that they probably wouldn’t do in face-to-face meetings. Most of these people do not know how to carry themselves in such meetings. The most common unethical behaviors I have encountered include harassing other participants, talking about other employees in the meeting, and publicly sharing confidential information of other employees in the meeting.
Some of the behaviors I have come across have had bad effects on the meeting, in some cases causing meetings to end prematurely. The best way to avoid such unethical practices is by respecting everyone in the online meeting. This will help to draw the line between what is good and bad. Many successful meetings I have been part of have been characterized by respect from employers to employees and vice versa.
Crucial ethical practices you should adhere to when holding online business meetings include:
1. Always Introduce Yourself
In online business meetings, it is polite to introduce yourself before making any presentation. I have been in meetings where many people overlook this. They assume that all participants of the meeting know them. In your introduction, be sure to include your name and the post you hold in the business. This will improve the communication during the meeting because other participants have an easy time referring to you.
2. Avoid Interruptions
Interruptions are a deterrent to an online meeting. With constant interruptions, the chances of channeling the required information in the meeting are minimal. Interruptions are of various kinds; they may be from background noises or directly from a participant. When in any online business meeting, ensure you get rid of anything that could potentially become a source of noise. You can also alert people around you that you are in a meeting using a sticker to remind them to remain silent.
Interruptions could also arise from the participant directly. Many people are involved in this kind of distraction because they interrupt other speakers before they deliver their points. It is ethical to listen carefully to other participants and wait for your turn to raise your argument. Interrupting a speaker may cause them to forget their intended topics of address. I advise participants of online meetings to respect each other’s opinions and to argue in an organized manner.
3. Use the Mute Feature When You Are Not Actively Needed
In online business meetings, it is always good to use the mute button to avoid background noise. When holding virtual meetings in my business, I’m keen to remind the participants to mute their microphones when not speaking. Background noise hinders proper communication in the meeting.
4. Think Before You Speak
Similar to face to face meetings, online meetings require participants to think before uttering a word. I always ask myself questions like; is what I am about to say relevant to this meeting? What will be people’s reaction to my words? Also, I make sure that my statements are understandable because my audience does not have the advantage of reading my body language.
5. Dress Appropriately
Many people do not understand that online meetings are as important as face to face meetings. People think that because they are communicating remotely they can take advantage and dress inappropriately. People usually have a visual of you in the meeting and dressing poorly drives all the attention towards you leading to an unsuccessful meeting. Before I join any online meeting, I’m keen to check whether I look presentable. I dress as I do on a regular office day to avoid embarrassment.
6. Always Be Present and Speak Up
Active participation of all participants is of great value in online business meetings. One should not leave the meeting while it’s in progress. In case of an urgent issue, I excuse myself through the right protocol. When it is my turn to make a presentation, I always ensure that I’m audible to other participants.
