Video Conferencing Dos and Don'ts

If you’re working remotely, you might find that you’re suddenly participating in regular video conferencing. Just like regular work meeting protocol, are common rules of etiquette when it comes to video conferencing.

1. Just like any other meeting, always be on time. This might mean you need to test your technology ahead of time to ensure that it is working properly.
    
2. Mute your audio when you’re not talking. Even if you’re alone in your home, background noise can prove to be a distraction.
    
3. Wear appropriate clothing on the top and bottom, rather than just on top. You never know when you might have to suddenly get up or if your camera might fall, exposing your bottom half.
    
4. Have a clean work surface and background. Make sure your background area is clean and not distracting to others.
    
5. You should also clean up your digital desktop if you will be sharing your screen. Close unneeded browsers and applications so that viewers can focus on what you’re showing them, and not everything else on your screen. Make sure that all of your material is organized and easy to find so that you have it ready to pull up when it's your turn to present. 
    
6. Make eye contact with the camera. Always look into your camera when you’re talking, rather than yourself.
    
7. Turn on do not disturb mode on your Mac or Windows. This will stop notifications from popping up on your screen. This is especially important if you plan to share your screen, as it will stop private messages or notifications from displaying. 
    
8. Don’t be distracted. Just like in an in-person meeting, you shouldn’t be playing on your phone or doing other work while in the meeting.