Are you getting tired of using Zoom?
If you're like me and starting to have regular online meetings, you may find yourself doing far too many, in too little time. I've heard that others are spending hours every day in online meetings.
Was that the norm for you? Regular daily meetings? Remember you are in control of your diary. Set a routine and try to pace yourself. I've decided no more than one meeting a day but for others that might not be realistic.
Whatever you do - don't do back-to-back meetings. Make sure you have breaks in between for meals, for exercise or walking, to get away from the screen so that your eyes can adjust to other things. Get some washing done, go for a walk in the garden or around the block - anything away from your computer or phone screen so your eyes can have a break, and you too.
It hasn't been too much of a hindrance for us. I thought it would be infinitely more difficult to work remotely. It is a tad more difficult communicating in groups but with Zoom/Skype, the job gets done!
You can have too many meetings in person too. Just comes down to good ol' time management.
I find it's important simply to be in a good headspace and that starts from your desk environment/home office. And as you mentioned, taking adequate breaks away from the desk/computer.
I'm not a fan of having meetings for the sake of havings meetings, whether that be in a physical or virtual format. In these current times it's natural that there will be more Zoom-type meetings, but to keep everyone on track, here's some ideas:
- Send out an agenda for the meeting, so that all parties know ahead of time what the meeting is about and the expected outcome.
- Nominate a order-keeper. Meetings have a tendency to quickly slide into a talk fest of "how is everyone doing?". Have someone take that leadership role to take the helm and keep the topic of conversation on track.
- Not all meetings need to be conversational. Sometimes the coordinator needs to gather information, but rather than open up for diaglogue, you could record a video using a tool like Loom and ask for feedback via a survey or simple email.
You're assuming that these are all meetings where there are a group of people and an agenda to the meeting? But not all those having Zoom meetings are doing that. Some are exploration - getting to know you meetings, some are how-to meetings, some are webinars. I guess for webinars they could be recorded but for the others, important that they are conversational. And then there are photography clubs, Rotary, BNI and others, all holding their regular meetings via Zoom - so yes, they would all have agendas. Great tips, however and thank you.
Thanks Ms. Kathie Thomas. Will see after situation comes normalcy. Be safe.
Yee Trinh, Cofounder at SavvySME
If there's no definitive objective to the meeting, don't have it!