Online meetings have become part and parcel of professional and personal dealings in today's digitally-driven world. Working from home, attending virtual conferences, or catching up with clients or colleagues requires readiness regarding the consideration one needs to observe for the professional and efficient execution of tasks. Here are six essential tips to help you be prepared for your next online meeting.

Test your technology in advance

One of the largest technical barriers that could happen in an online meeting can be avoided if participants get into the habit of testing their technology well in advance: making sure your internet is working well, your computer or device is at top speed, and your microphone and camera are in great order. Most video conferencing platforms offer tools to test audio and video settings. Also, keep upgrading your software and apps to avoid issues of incompatibility. All of the above preparation, when done in advance, shall save you from last-minute technical hassles and ensure smoothness while conducting the meeting.

Choose a professional and non-distracting environment

This is the part where the background you are surrounded by during online meetings can easily affect how professional you are, or how well you are focused on the ongoing discussion. Attend to a quiet, well-lit area with no background noise or distractions. Make sure your background looks neat; this will, in turn, show that you're someone detailed enough and cares about your audience. You can use virtual backgrounds, if appropriate, to avoid giving away where you are currently located. Be sure to indicate when family members or roommates around you will be finished to help minimize any possible disruptions of your meeting. A clean and clutter-free workspace will help in supporting your focus and productivity for the meeting.

Prepare and organize meeting materials

The success key to conducting any online meeting is to be prepared. Get all your documents, presentations, or reports that may turn out to be useful in a meeting and go through them in advance. Familiarize yourself with the agenda and all the important points that are going to be discussed. This way, you would easily be able to refer to or share such materials since they would already be at your fingertips. In case you are going to share your screen, clean up junk on your desktop and ensure that only important documents or apps are open. This kind of preparation will make you effectively contribute and look professional.

Dress appropriately for the occasion

Online meetings are taken seriously through proper dressing. Dress accordingly to the type of meeting it is going to be—business formal, business casual, or casual. Even when you're working from home, dressing professionally puts you in the right mindset for the meeting. Shy away from far-too-casual attire like sleepwear and gym wear, as that can influence how others will perceive the level of your engagement and seriousness. Being properly dressed will boost your confidence and further reinforce your commitment to being professional.

Personal grooming

The professional preparation for online meetings also includes getting your grooming, so that you have the confidence and are able to give out the best version of yourself. If you have curly hair, then keeping your hair healthy and great-looking is not a question of your appearance only; rather it's a part of your persona. To keep your curly hair alive condition them regularly and use products friendly to them to help keep your locks looking vivid and healthy. Keep your hair clean and appropriately styled when attending online meetings.

Master effective communication techniques

Regardless of the form an online meeting takes, what's needed is clear and effective communication. One should talk clearly at a moderate speed to ensure clear messages are passed out to the listeners. Embrace high-quality microphones that enhance the clarity of audio or avoid situations where one speaks over people. This also applies to non-verbal activities: eye contact with the camera, appropriate facial expression, and core body language exposure. At the same time, be careful about what other participants are hearing and respond to them accordingly.

Technical, professional, and communicational—these are all the things you should be prepared for in any online meeting. Some ways to get you on the right track for any virtual interaction include testing technology, building a no-distraction environment, keeping materials at hand, dressing appropriately, mastering the communication art, and following up after the meeting. These tips will help you be confident and professional in participation and therefore be able to render productive and successful virtual meetings.

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