It doesn’t matter how comfortable you think you are in a public speaking role. You might be the most charming and disarming networker of all time. That is great. But it does not mean you can waltz your way into a video conference without first considering the unique challenges posed by video conferencing solutions. They are not difficult to avoid if you know they are there. So keep an eye on these four potential pitfalls.
Keeping It Casual
The prevalence of Skype and FaceTime (and other such video chat apps) in pretty much everyone’s day-to-day existence is great, because when it comes time to video conference in a professional setting, you will already feel comfortable with communication that is mediated by a screen. However, there’s a negative flipside to familiarity: overly casual confidence. So be careful not to treat business video conferences as you would a FaceTime session with your friend. This might seem like an obvious point, but when someone gets into a routine with technology, it can be hard to switch gears. Just think about how difficult it can be to compose a professional text message after years spent trading slang-filled texts with friends. Never forget that you are doing business.
Infrastructure Assessment
You might need to go all out and invest in an immersive video solution, but before you get something with all the bells and whistles, take stock of your organization’s needs. Could be you need a smaller scale mobile solution that offers flexibility instead of size. Get what fits right, not what seems most impressive. You’re here to work, not show off gadgets.
Background Distractions
This is a huge one, especially for people who work from home or coffee shops or other shared spaces. It can be tempting to fire up the laptop and join a video conference from the cozy corner of whatever cafe you happen to be patronizing, but you run the risk of blasting your colleagues with all manner of noise, but aural and visual. No one wants to yell over the sound of steaming milk. This goes for home offices, too. Find a quiet, tastefully decorated room and designate it as your video conference space.
Overly Subtle Social Cues
As sophisticated as video conferencing technology has gotten, there is simply no way a screen will transmit all of the subtle social cues that enrich an in-person meeting. In a face-to-face meeting, so much of what is communicated remains unspoken. It’s much easier to read body language when you’re in the same room as someone, whether it’s an uncomfortable shift in a seat or a dismissive wave of the hand. Some of these things can make the leap into the virtual realm, but it would be dangerous to rely too much on such subtleties of communication. State things as clearly as possible and don’t leave too much room for interpretation. You can easily get yourself in trouble with sarcasm, deadpan humor and barely perceptible gestures.
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