How to Collaborate Like A Pro: Tips for working with Zoom
With more companies moving to remote work, more and more people are relying on Zoom for meetings, training, and general collaboration. In this article, we’ll discuss ten tips on using Zoom to your advantage and come off looking like you know what you’re doing!
1. Make sure your background is free of clutter and appears presentable.
Your desk may look like a tornado touched down, but anything the camera can see, shouldn’t. You can test your Zoom settings using the camera features on your computer before entering a meeting. Play around with your settings a bit, especially if you have a new webcam, you haven’t used before. It will make the meeting go smoother.
2. Keep your space well lit and as quiet as possible
We may be working from our dining rooms right now, and the kids all have questions, but make sure you’re able to share when you are in a collaborative period and that those times need to be quiet. You’ll have a much better meeting when you don’t have to talk over the noise around you.
3. Test your headset or microphone settings before entering a meeting
There’s nothing more annoying than having to repeat yourself after correcting your settings mid-meeting. You can use the sound settings on your computer and perform a test call in Zoom to confirm everything is correct.
4. No matter what version of Zoom you have, explore the software’s different features before inviting your team to a session.
This will give you the upper hand in using Zoom efficiently and effectively. You can find tons of help videos and articles on their website. Features like Attention Tracking, Touch Up, Waiting Room, and Take Control may be available.
5. Use the Zoom add-in for Outlook to schedule Zoom meetings from your Outlook calendar.
This saves you time and energy having to switch between applications for scheduling and continuity. There are more critical things for you to do than dealing with multiple calendars. Zoom has instructions on their website
6. Record your meetings.
Recording meetings gives you a reference point to look back on content that may have been missed and adjust the next meeting’s flow if needed. Even the free version of Zoom has a record meeting option, so this isn’t a fancy feature that costs an arm and a leg.
7. Utilize Screen Share to give presentations or training.
We all know it can be a pain to try and explain where something is, and the other person simply not being able to find it. With screen share, you can show them yourself or even view how they are attempting to reach something, to see any changes that need to be made in their process.
8. If you have a large company or many people in a meeting, use the group mute feature.
Have the attendees use the “raise hand” feature. This will cut down on accidental talking over the mic, and it will keep your meeting organized and efficient.
9. If you are not the meeting moderator, make sure you mute your mic when you’re not talking.
Make it a habit; that way, you don’t end up embarrassed in front of the whole team when they hear you talking to your dog in that high pitched baby voice we all use.
