Do’s and don’ts for using visuals during virtual meetings

With social distancing in full swing, virtual meetings are on the rise! The good news is that they are generally cheaper, can allow for more participants, and with many technology solutions to choose from they are easier to plan for and arrange than ever.

But they don’t come without some risks and potential downsides. Groups may already be facing difficult communication challenges, and distance can create even more obstacles for team culture and progress.

Just as with in-person meetings, visuals can play an essential role in supporting individuals and groups with building relationships and getting results.

Here are some basic dos and donts for using visuals during online meetings.

Do use live visuals! Visuals enable us to literally “get on the same page” very quickly, and they keep us focused on the ideas at hand. Instead of a conference call, set up a meeting that allows for video. Relying on recorded video isn’t enough; it just isn’t as engaging — one survey indicated that viewers may spend 8x longer with live video than with recorded video.

Don’t choose between slides or live video. We need both! Human faces help convey important non-verbal communication, and keep us present and accountable to one another. Slides or other static visuals shared across screens can help us connect with key concepts. It’s best to use a mix of both. Also, if there are many attendees, encourage them to view everyone in “gallery”…