Working remotely comes with a world of new experiences. How should you navigate this unfamiliar territory while keeping your professionalism? This guide offers our favourite remote meeting tips — some of which make use of Timeqube Online, our latest handy productivity tool.
Remote meeting tip #1 Find a meeting tool that works for your team
Remote meetings tend to be challenging because sharing information is often hindered by the fact that everyone is in a different space. This makes it easier for teams to lose track of time, procrastinate or feel disjointed as a team. That’s why remote meeting tools are so important.
Timeqube Online, for example, is an online timer that unobtrusively keeps everyone on track. It is compatible with any videoconferencing software and simply sits at the corner of your screen. Meeting organisers can manage an unlimited number of Timequbes and encourage entire teams to stay on track.
Besides this, you may use other forms of meeting tools. Try communication tools like Slack, videoconferencing platforms like Zoom and real-time collaborative software like Google Documents.
Remote meeting tip #2 Have a clear agenda and stick to it
Getting distracted during meetings is almost inevitable, but even more so remotely. You could get distracted by technical difficulties, something going on in a team member’s home or even a funny video that you can share in a click. With so many avenues for procrastination, your productivity could seriously decline as a unit.
As a result, team leaders should create a clear meeting agenda and stick to it. Allow for a set amount of time for socialisation and distraction, but limit procrastination. You could use a Timeqube to practice a time management technique, like the Pomodoro Rule, to help your team stay productive.
Remote meeting tip #3 Keep everyone engaged
Remote meetings can sometimes suck because of the lack of opportunity for engagement. We’re all used to interacting in real life and jumping in during team discussions. Remote meetings, on the other hand, often feel like college lectures. There’s very little time to chip in and offer another opinion or bounce ideas off one another. It’s, therefore, more difficult to have natural conversation and engagement. In some cases, this could really cause serious disengagement amongst your team as some members mentally check out.
As such, you should try to keep your team as engaged as you can. Schedule some time in for small talk before the meeting, introduce interactive platforms for discussion and always break presentations up into smaller sections of time so as to allow for questions. These small steps go a long way in making remote meetings two-sided and enjoyable.
It takes time and effort
Whether you’re using a Timeqube or not, there are plenty of ways in which you can make remote meetings more productive and enjoyable. Put some thought into your planning, be more aware during meetings and take some time to gather feedback afterwards. Remember, the best tips could come from your team members themselves so don’t hesitate to work upon their suggestions.
