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Skills for Virtual Meetings

Lesson 19 from: Don't Get Pushed Around: An Introvert's Guide to Getting What You Need at Work

Ilise Benun

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Lesson Info

19. Skills for Virtual Meetings

Lesson Info

Skills for Virtual Meetings

Now we're doing skills and strategies for introverts for virtual meetings. I have a few tips here for how to handle yourself during virtual meetings, because virtual meetings are challenging and you may have challenges with ... Because you can't see the other people. Right, they are out there in the ether. Because you work remotely, Ivana, you must deal with this constantly, right? And it's really easy to get distracted in virtual meetings, because there are lots of things around you. There's email, there's the refrigerator, there's other people. So it's important to focus and it's hard sometimes to insert yourself into a virtual space. To raise your hand, there's no body language to use, right? Especially in conference calls, so how do you get yourself into the conversation? I think it can be very difficult. So a few suggestions, but here's what's happening often in the virtual space also, that people are kind of talking over each other, or, I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I fin...

d that the sound quality is usually not good in a lot of these virtual spaces. So you can kind of not hear what other people are saying, and then you have to say can you repeat that or can you speak up or can you put that in writing or something. But it definitely requires a lot more energy to get heard and also to hear what other people have to say. So it's really easy, I think, for shy people to just sit back and say, all right, this is not even working. I'm not even going to make an effort. So you really do have to make an extra effort sometimes in the virtual space. And it takes some getting used to. I remember one of my first webinars that I gave, I was sitting alone in my little office, and it felt so weird to not be talking to anyone, right? There's something about having people interacting with me, even if you're not saying anything right now, that feeds me, and so when you don't have that, and you're just working remotely or you're working in your home office or even if you've got people all around you but you're trying to communicate in this virtual space, it does make it very challenging. So this is more to go up against, basically. So here's some tips for audio conference calls, especially. So if you're leading the meeting, then always provide an agenda. Or if you're not leading the meeting, ask for one. This is kind of standard in a lot of companies, but not so much in other companies, and so it's really important to keep everyone on track with an agenda, and that takes a little extra effort, and maybe if there isn't one in advance, you say, can I do up an agenda for our meeting to make sure that we stay on track, right? That extra initiative will definitely be appreciated. When you are speaking, I think you should not hesitate to repeat yourself, because others may be multitasking or maybe can't hear you. So if you said something, let me say that again, let me say that another way, let me ask if people heard it, right? So make sure that you were heard, and when you start to speak, identify yourself, because you may not be able to recognize all the voices, especially if there are new people on call. Just say, this is Elise, blah blah blah, every time you speak. This is Elise, blah blah blah, and that requires some mindfulness, because we're in the habit of just talking, right? Comments, questions, you want to add anything, Ivana, from your experience as a remote worker with virtual meetings? She needs a mic, please. Mike, can you send her the mic, please? I find myself asking my boss, like, would you say, can you say that one more time. And while it might feel embarrassing her, maybe like, it's my fault, even though it's usually the program we're using. It's really important just to like just say it, ask what's happening again. Yes, I'm so glad you do that, because often I find people speak really fast, and so sometimes it's even just, can you please slow down and articulate, because we don't have a lot of the other senses participating. I think when you lose that sense of body language, you need to make up those missing points with verbal. Yes, I absolutely agree, excellent. All right, now for video calls, maybe a little bit different, but just a few tips. Make sure that what's behind you is not embarrassing and as professional as possible, okay? Don't look at yourself, because no matter how beautiful you are, you probably don't see yourself that way. So it might start some kind of bad self talk, but just look at the camera, which is, again, takes some getting used to.

Class Materials

Bonus Materials with Purchase

Exercise files for Introverts
Ilise Benun Sample Chapter
Resources for Introverts

Ratings and Reviews

Susan
 

It was interesting to learn from your program what experiences other people have in certain situations and how similar or different they are to mine. And that’s it’s ok to “own” your inner introvert, and to work with it instead of against it. The good thing is, the more self-aware we become, the more aware and sensitive we can be towards others, thanks to shared knowledge and programs like yours. So thank you Ilise, for an enlightening program. I look forward to going back over it sometime.

Simone
 

Was a great overall course with lots of tips and ways to frame in your mind what may be happening rather than making assumptions. I would have liked a deeper dive into dealing with conflict, people who just don't think and operate the same way, and getting what you need in situations where usual methods aren't working. Perhaps an additional course on that. Thanks

Simone
 

Was a great overall course with lots of tips and ways to frame in your mind what may be happening rather than making assumptions. I would have liked a deeper dive into dealing with conflict, people who just don't think and operate the same way, and getting what you need in situations where usual methods aren't working. Perhaps an additional course on that. Thanks

Student Work

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