New managers attending Openside’s “Working in a Hybrid Environment” workshops share their top tips for online meetings.

Dos

• Use people’s names when addressing them
• Start little rituals in meetings like small talk
• Smile and show your interest
• Try to have eye contact
• Put the camera on
• Use headphones to avoid background noise and distraction
• Keep a good balance between talking and listening
• Summarise understanding and ask for feedback during conversation
• Make feelings/thoughts explicit
• Take notes and screenshots, to be more focused on actions after the meeting

Don’ts

• No phone – put it out of sight
• No multi-tasking, everyone can see
• Don’t focus solely on the shared screen/slides but also on the people
• Don’t talk non-stop, allow others time to make their point