The etiquette of video calling
23 June 2020Make sure you are not annoying! Stick to the rules of video calling.
How do you present yourself when you are video calling? Do you know that there are unwritten rules and do you stick to them? Do you eat behind your screen and is your microphone on mute by default?
There are many advantages to video calling, but many irritations can also occur. In this blog, we tell you what you need to know to come across professionally during video calls.
How to come across professionally with video calling.
10 rules:
- Make sure you are on time. It is annoying to keep people waiting. It is more irritating when you have to wait during the start of a video call than when you are late for a physical appointment. Better even to arrive a little early, so you can test the camera and microphone beforehand.
- Make sure you sit behind your screen looking groomed. If you haven't washed, haven't shaved, haven't combed your hair and your clothes are wrinkled, this does not come across as professional.
- Focus on the conversation, try not to yawn and do not multitask (so do not secretly answer emails during the video call).
- Put your microphone on mute (default), so your conversation partners are not disturbed by background noise. Only turn it on when you want to say something.
- Call with headphones, preferably with a built-in microphone.
- Let the other person finish! Do not talk over them. Wait to say things directly until it is your turn. When you want to say something, you can raise your hand.
- Ensure a quiet background without distraction (blur your background), sit in a quiet room where you cannot be disturbed.
- Be yourself and don't become a robot, take the other person seriously and don't wander off.
- If you are video calling, do not eat or smoke. It doesn't look very attractive! Even unappetizing.
- Ensure a good internet connection!