Three On Thursday

If you’re like me and you’re doing any sort of remote participation for work, or if you’re trying to hang out with your friends virtually, you are probably using Zoom. I’ve used Zoom for a while for online sessions with my life coach but my use of Zoom has increased dramatically over the last 5 weeks. And because I’m using it more I’ve learned some good practices. Today I’m sharing them with you.

  1. The first and most important thing to do it get the correct set up. And in creating that set up you need to elevate your camera, whether you’re using a laptop of iPad or smart phone, to eye level. Please do this. Please. Because no one wants to be looking up your nose. Make note of where you camera is and look directly into the camera as much as possible so that you don’t appear to be vacantly staring off into space. Or looking down at your phone. And take advantage of Zoom’s touch up my appearance feature . . . it’s a game changer.
  2. Along with getting that height at the right spot (slightly angled down will also make you look better) make sure your background is something you don’t mind people seeing. There are virtual backgrounds you can use but your home is probably just fine so long as there isn’t laundry on the floor behind you. If you live with other people there’s probably going to come a moment where they wander around behind you. That’s fine and sometimes even adds a little levity to a meeting when it’s a cute kid or dog.
  3. Finally, practice good meeting etiquette. Mute your microphone so that your noises aren’t distracting to others. Don’t yawn with your mouth open or eat during a meeting (and yes, I have seen both of those things happen recently). Don’t play with your hair. And, probably most important and also hardest: don’t talk over other people. Wait for the pause between speakers and then jump in. Even better, use the raise your hand feature that’s available in Zoom.

Zoom is truly a great tool for work but also for helping to chase away those isolation blues. I’ve had virtual happy hours and virtual meetings. I’ve hung out with my kids and my local friends and even my college friends. Mary hosts a weekly knitters meet up. Truly, Zoom is something we all could have been taking advantage off in a real way for a long time and it could be a teeny tiny silver lining as we cope with this pandemic. I’d love to hear your stories and experiences using Zoom.

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This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. Thanks for these tips. We’re using Google Meet for my Kindergartener – it is insane. I’m sure you can imagine 15 kindergarteners trying to meet remotely. It’s SO FUNNY.

    Thanks for the linkup!

  2. These are great tips. I’m thankful I already knew about the camera level and keeping myself on mute (at least for work meetings), but I didn’t know about the touch-up feature. I haven’t been wearing makeup much at all since I started working from home (because my family knows what I look like without it!), but I’ve occasionally put it on when I’ve needed to be on camera. This feature might save me a little time!

  3. I love being able to raise my hand on Zoom. Iā€™m one of those people who struggles with politeness trained into me in freewheeling discussions and find it hard to participate sometimes. Virtual hand raising feels less dorky than in real life.

  4. Zoom has a “touch up my appearance” feature? I need to find this setting and use it (after adjusting my laptop so people are not looking up my nose)! Thanks, Carole!

  5. Good tips! I have to admit that I never use Zoom, or any other video chat. T. had done a virtual happy hour a few times but I can’t get myself to do it. I tried Skype a few years back, but I never liked it. I am trying to convince myself to be more open to it though, since my father has been asking to see my face…

  6. I’m with Bonny . . . “touch up my appearance??????” Will it put mascara on FOR me?????
    (Great tips, Carole.)
    XO

  8. Thanks for the touch-up-my-appearance tip! I have been in Zoom meetings and did not know about that feature. Judging by the other comments, you have improved a LOT of future Zoom sessions šŸ™‚

  9. I’ve uploaded a headshot of me to my account, and if I need to eat during a meeting (not when I’m teaching! During one of the endless back to back work meeting), I turn off the video, and folks see a nice picture of me instead of my gnoshing self!

  11. Thanks for the zoom tips! I never zoomed before the pandemic but now I do it regularly. We have a group of friends (5 couples) who has a regular happy hour every Saturday night. It gives us something to look forward to. If we can remember which day is Saturday! šŸ™‚

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