Remote meetings are a crucial part of collaboration, particularly for teams that are distributed. However, they can be less efficient than meetings in person when you don’t use the proper manners of meeting. However, many of the same methods that help make meetings more productive and fun in person can be used in virtual meetings. Here are 13 tips from Forbes Coaches Council members on how to organize an effective remote meeting
1. Use an agenda.
To avoid getting lost in the conversation, begin your meeting with an agenda that is clear. If you can, make an agenda that incorporates input from the attendees http://www.boardmeetingonline.net/4-business-management-skills-you-need-to-succeed/ and present it first.
2. Encourage everyone to speak up.
In online meetings, some participants may be reluctant to participate because they worry about dominating the discussion or being interrupted. To combat this, think about making use of a conference call that has a specific microphone and camera that helps to filter out background noises and amplify everyone’s voice in a similar way. Make sure to ask questions or comments at the end of the meeting to ensure that every attendee is heard.
3. Focus on action items, and follow-up.
Meetings usually end with a vague list of action items and no plan for follow-up. To prevent this from happening, you must agree on how the actions will be documented and followed-up at the beginning of the meeting, and then review them at the conclusion of the meeting. You can also set up one-on-one follow-up meetings or another team session that is within a reasonable timeframe.