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Working remote? 10 tips for Zoom and online meeting etiquette

One of the implications of the COVID-19 virus has been that many in-person meetings have moved online. Penn State Health Zoom is available to facilitate online meetings.

Guides on setting up, hosting and participating in Zoom meetings are available on the Remote Working and Learning Infonet page (internal access only; Penn State Health ePass login required).

Here are some etiquette tips to make virtual meetings as productive as possible:

  1. Mute your microphone when you aren’t speaking. Background noise is distracting.
  2. Use computer audio. For the best audio experience, choose the computer audio option when connecting to your Zoom meeting.
  3. Test technology. Make sure you have reliable Wi-Fi before the meeting. You want to be able to hear the conversation, and others want to be able to hear you.
  4. Focus. Don’t multitask. It’s not the time to check emails or read articles online.
  5. Identify yourself before speaking. It’s frustrating not knowing who’s talking. Don’t keep everyone guessing.
  6. Speak loudly, clearly and don’t rush. There’s no prize for finishing a sentence in a nanosecond. Pause after asking a question.
  7. Avoid talking over others. Don’t speak over other people or interrupt them when they’re speaking.
  8. Take specialized conversations offline. Don’t waste 15 co-workers’ time for something that only involves five.
  9. Use screen sharing. You and your meeting attendees can share documents you are working on by clicking the Share Screen button in the Zoom toolbar.
  10. Look into the camera when speaking and be mindful of your facial expressions and actions. If you are using video, position your web camera and monitor at eye level so you can look into the camera and simulate eye-to-eye contact with participants.

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