Video Conferencing Etiquette Checklist June 08, 2009
It's great to have a conference call at home rather than commute an hour to the office in an ill-fitting business suit. Most can agree on that much, at least. A drawback of video conferencing is, in exchange for the added efficiency of seeing those you're conferring with, you also have to mind your image. Thus, ooVoo, a provider of multi-point video chat, developed video conferencing etiquette tips in partnership with Beverly Hills Manners.
Some tips, such as creating an agenda to share in advance, or muting cell phones, may seem obvious, says ooVoo CEO Philippe Schwartz, "but when not employed properly, lack of etiquette can derail the effectiveness of a video conference session." Here are the pointers ooVoo and Beverly Hills Manners came up with to improve your workforce's video conferencing acumen:
• Pick a facilitator to help manage over-exuberant participants.
• Ask permission if you wish to record a video chat. Privacy is expected until consent is given otherwise.
• Pay attention and listen. If you try to fake it, you'll be caught.
• Acknowledge the power of your body language. Avoid personal gestures such as hair playing, scratching, picking, etc.
• Remember you are meeting face to face on clear video, so remain aware of your facial expressions, and monitor them so you send the right message.
• Don't eat or drink during a business video conference call.
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