Ignite CSP senior coach Neela Munoz has been noticing a few things that are specific to how we communicate when we’re on a video conference–check it out!
Virtual
Back in the spring, we all did what we could. We fired up Zoom, we pivoted in-person meetings and events to virtual, and we limped along. We figured things would be back to normal pretty soon. Now we know that virtual is the new normal. Even when we can go back into offices and conference … Read more
It’s easier for me to stay engaged for a longer period of time on a video meeting than on a phone call. There’s more to look at and more signals to read from the other people in the meeting, so my mind is less likely to wander. But I’m definitely not immune to Zoom Distraction … Read more
There are good reasons to have a virtual background: the space you’re using isn’t one you want to share with the people on your call other people will be visible in your space you don’t feel like arranging what’s behind you differently you want to create a uniformity of look when a team is presenting … Read more
I want to make sure you know this important tip: You can turn off self-view on Zoom and most other video platforms. And you should. When you’re logging into the call, there is usually a chance to check yourself out before you join the other participants. Use this opportunity—make sure there’s nothing in your teeth, … Read more
I got to be part of an online workshop this week with hundreds of educators, kindergarten through university. These dedicated teachers were looking for ways to engage their students online in this new, unsettling world we’re all living in. One of my favorite aspects of the workshop was the incredibly generous way that the teachers … Read more
I’m sure you’ve noticed this. You’re on a video call, and two people start to speak at the same time. This leads to both people stopping, then with saying, “You go ahead.” I want to mention a couple of things about this very common phenomenon. The first is: This is good! When a … Read more
Teaching is one of the most profoundly physical professions I can think of. That may sound weird—what’s so physical about sharing information with people? But when I think of what it takes to teach a class, particularly a class of children or teenagers, I think about Saying hello and looking at the students as … Read more
Imagine a sales representative for a medical device company. She is used to meeting with potential buyers at their offices or hospitals. She can easily establish rapport as they settle into their seats, finding common ground to chat about as everyone prepares for the meeting. By the time she fires up her PowerPoint deck, everyone … Read more
It’s easy to see when people aren’t doing a good job leading a webinar or video meeting. They seem ill-prepared, they aren’t engaging, they read their slides, they don’t interact. But what can we do to be better audience members? How can we hold up our end of the social contract? 1) Pay … Read more
