Virtual meetings face the same issues that in-person meetings face but they are also subject to distractions and technological obstacles. However, you can effectively conduct virtual meetings following a few basic rules for meeting conduct.

Having an agenda is key for running virtual meetings on time, and to keep participants engaged throughout the session. You can also encourage participation by posing open-ended questions, asking for feedback and assigning roles for taking notes or recording next steps.

If you’re planning slides or other visuals for your presentation, be sure to test them ahead of time, as well as any hardware or software you might need. Also, be on time so that you have enough time to correct any technical issues that may arise before your scheduled start time.

It’s impossible to discern the body language or emotions if you’re not able see the attendees. Therefore, try to keep eye contact with everyone, or request them to do so. Also, you should choose an area that is quiet with no distractions so that you can focus www.boardroomkitchen.com/providing-administrative-support-for-effective-meetings/ on the meeting. You can turn off your microphone if you’re not speaking.

If you’re a moderator make sure you ask for feedback from participants at the end of the session. This allows you to pinpoint areas for improvement and also gives participants a clear understanding of how their feedback was appreciated. In the last two minutes of a session, it’s also a good habit to review the following steps and track any action items.