If you have kids, pets, babies or even a window behind you displaying the outdoors, your home is a recipe for disaster.
In recent years, online meetings have become increasingly popular among businesses and organizations. They can be a great way to communicate with colleagues and customers, but they can also be a source of embarrassment and stress. Here are some tips to help prevent embarrassing online meetings:
- Make sure everyone is aware of the potential consequences of attending an online meeting. This could include being required to take a break or leaving early, or even getting fired.
- Be prepared for any potential disruptions that may occur during the meeting. This could include people not being able to join or leaving at the scheduled time, or people not being able to understand what is being said.
- Be aware of your own behavior and how it might be perceived by others in the meeting. If you are uncomfortable with something that is happening, say so before the meeting begins and try to avoid any confrontations that may follow.
Online Meetings: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
The BBC interviewer asked Professor Kelly about a sexual assault allegation against him that he had not yet been able to prove. Kelly replied, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re asking me.”
In an interview with the media, one of Kelly’s toddler-aged children walked into his office, mid-interview, and so did his baby in a walker. Finally, his frantic wife races into the room to extract the children from the room.
This online meeting was embarrassing for a few reasons. First, it was live and aired on television. Second, it was a meeting that took place in front of millions of people. Finally, it was an embarrassing moment because it was broadcast all over the world.
Preventing Embarrassing Online Meeting Moments
There are ways to reduce the chances of any unfortunate events happening in your office, computer, and meeting. By following these tips, you can make sure that your work space is as safe and secure as possible.
If you follow all of these guidelines, you can rest assured that all your online meetings will go smoothly and without any embarrassing or memorable moments. ..
Block Your Camera When Not In Use
webcam coverings can be helpful for security reasons, but they can also make it difficult to start an online meeting on time. ..
Some people have been caught going to the bathroom during a meeting because their webcam was pointed at an open bathroom door. ..
Multiple reasons can lead to this happening. ..
You start a meeting by activating the webcam. You forget that the webcam is on during the meeting, and you think the meeting has ended when people are still connected. ..
If you use a webcam, make sure to use the slider cover if it’s available. If not, keep some tape handy to cover the camera when it’s not in use. ..
Use Curtains On Background Windows
When you’re in an online meeting, Windows might be great to let light into your office. But when you’re in an offline meeting, they can cause a lot of problems.
- A person accidentally opens the window and sees a view of their neighbor’s house.
- A person opens the window to get a breeze and sees their neighbor’s dog playing in the yard.
- A person opens the window to get air conditioning and sees their neighbor’s cat playing in the yard.
You Look Like a Villain
Your first impression would be that this person is not really there, or they are only a shadow.
However, in the new movie “The Nun”, the villain is a nun, and her lair is a convent. The film is set in Romania, and it tells the story of a young nun who is sent to investigate a series of murders at the convent. ..
A web camera is designed to automatically filter light, making the room appear darker than it actually is. This can make it difficult to see what’s happening in the room, and can make it difficult to take pictures or videos.
The easiest way to fix this issue is to close all the windows behind you and keep the curtains or shades closed during meetings.
Pets Love Windows
A pet’s love of windows is often a source of frustration for meeting planners.
If you notice people in the meeting snickering or chuckling while you’re talking, it may be time to take a look behind you.
There’s a good chance your cat is up to no good. ..
If you’re ready to start an online meeting, make sure all of your pets are out of the room so they can’t embarrass you during the video conference.
A locked office can keep out unwanted pets and other uninvited guests.
The Outdoors Aren’t Always Lovely
The other problem with windows is the stuff that happens on the other side of those glass walls.
Do you want to be seen by your coworkers or other meeting attendees as someone who is out of their element and not interested in the discussion?
Window curtains can help protect you from potential danger, as well as make your home look more inviting. Make sure to use them to keep out the elements and make your home feel more secure.
Crank Up The Lighting
A well-lit office makes for the best video conference experience. To achieve perfect lighting, position your desk so that there is a window (with the curtains open) either behind the monitor you are facing, or off to the side. ..
Window light from the side casts a shadow on the person in front of it, while window light from behind is more natural and allows the camera to pick up your face.
If you don’t have a window located the right way in your office, the next best solution is to turn on as many overhead lights as you can.
Philips Hue lights can be set to the brightest setting to make them easier to see in dark rooms.
Tidy Up Before Meetings
The University of Michigan study found that people’s negative opinions about others developed simply by the state of their office. The study found that people who worked in offices with messy desks, for example, were more likely to have negative opinions about their coworkers than those who worked in offices with clean desks. ..
This finding is not surprising. However, it’s unfortunate if you’ve been working hard all week and just haven’t had time to clean up the space around you before that online video meeting.
The hard solution is to pick up all of the clutter in front of you and make sure that everything is in its rightful place. Make sure that the video meeting starts on time, and that everyone is on their game.
The meeting may not be perfect, but if everyone in the room can see the mess, they won’t know any better.
Oh The Sounds We Make
When sound is a problem, it can be difficult to have a productive video conference. There are ways to make sure your microphone doesn’t embarrass you, but it can be difficult.
- Speaking into the air instead of the microphone.
- Picking up a phone or other device to speak into it instead of using the microphone.
- Standing up and walking around to get a better signal.
- Moving closer to the microphone or speaker to improve your audio quality. ..
You eat chips or something else crunchy and loud to mumble something negative about a coworker under your breath that everyone can hear. You have a personal side conversation with your spouse or other family member to make embarrassing bodily sounds.
Humorous: Your boss walks in on you while you’re taking a leak. Embarrassing: You forget to zip up your fly and are caught in the act. ..
To ensure that all participants are able to hear each other, always check your microphone status before the meeting begins and be aware of when you need to speak. ..
This can help to avoid any potential disruptions during a meeting by keeping the conversation focused on the discussion at hand.
To unmute incoming calls on Skype, you can find this setting in the Settings menu, under Audio & Video. Just make sure Unmute for outgoing calls is turned off.
When using a video conferencing application, it is important to set the microphone to “talk” mode. This setting will allow you to hear other people in the room and will not affect the quality of the audio.
Other Helpful Tips
To ensure a smooth video conference experience, keep the following tips in mind:
- Make sure your video and audio are both clear. Try using a good quality webcam and microphone.
- Make sure you’re comfortable with the video call. If you’re not, try to prepare ahead of time by practicing your conversation.
- If you’re having a difficult time with the video call, try to adjust the settings or contact the person on the other end to see if they can help. ..
When sharing your screen, don’t select the share button before you see the correct screen highlighted. Every major online conferencing app highlights the screen you’ve selected so you always know which screen you’re going to share. Sharing the wrong screen could lead to people seeing things you don’t want them to. Window placement: A common mistake people make is placing the chat window with everyone’s faces on a screen away from the webcam. Instead, place it on the same screen so it looks like you’re looking at people directly. Virtual backgrounds – Most apps like Zoom and Skype now let you choose a virtual background. You can either pick something from the presets or you can download your own image and use it as a background. Some apps let you blur the background too, so if you’re stuck with a bad backdrop for your call, get a virtual one.
Have you ever had any embarrassing moments during your videoconferences? We’d love to hear your story in the comments section below.
