Keeping Up Appearances: Know Your Zoom Call Etiquette

Zoom has 300 million daily meeting participants. Usage of the video conferencing app shot up by 3300% in October 2020, and yet many people are still stumped about the social cues involved with attending or hosting a virtual meeting – and Zoom call etiquette.

As the world adjusts to remote working culture, learning the do’s and don’ts of Zoom call etiquette is an essential goal for everyone – from CEO to intern.

How you choose to present yourself plays a large role in how others perceive you. Even though it can cause some people to feel anxious, most Zoom users report that having your video off while on a call goes against basic Zoom etiquette.

In addition to the basic notion of always having your video turned on, there is presentation to consider. According to The Washington Post, if you are on a professional or work-related call, looking fresh, clean, and well-groomed is essential. You’ll want to go for neutral, pastel, or cool-toned clothing that does not distract too much from the meeting itself.

Many professionals wear jewelry while on camera. If you are one of these professionals, bear in mind that jewelry should be simple and understated, again not distracting from the professionalism of the meeting. Hairstyles should be neat or pinned back where possible to give attendees a full view of your eyes, facial expressions, and annunciation.

A report from Forbes claims that 62% of executives believe that video conferencing is the key to effective remote communication. First and foremost, Zoom call attendees need to speak clearly, slowly, and remember to regularly pause in case others have unanswered questions.

Those sitting in on Zoom calls need to remain aware of any sound or microphone issues that could be obstructing others from hearing them. Holding a Q&A session at the end of a call is also considered good manners in the video conferencing world.

Zoom attendees can further boost their etiquette game by using SQL integrations that make communication easier and more efficient. With integrations, users can update rows, add meetings, and add webinar registrants with ease. Etiquette has never been so automated.

Career experts at Indeed say that the key to unlocking peak collaborative productivity comes down to picking the perfect environment for your Zoom meeting. Both hosts and attendees should always set up in a space that is as quiet and clutter-free as possible. Too much visual or auditory noise is deemed inconsiderate to others on the call.

In addition to this, those wanting to maintain a high level of Zoom call etiquette should maintain a sense of awareness around internet connection. Making sure that Wi-Fi is not only connected but operating at high speed will eliminate the potential for others to miss out on what you are saying.

Always make sure your environment is well-lit and reflects as much light as possible back onto you. If you do this, those sharing the call will have a clear, well-defined perspective of your face.

By following these simple tips for Zoom call etiquette, your video calls should always highlight your level of professionalism and make engagement and collaboration easy.