How to Run

a Great

‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Steven Pritchard

TMA World │ Head of Corporate Relations & Research

How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Running meetings with

remote employees in

virtual teams can be

a real nuisance

because they disrupt the

smooth flow of more

important

work (and fun),

taking place face to face

in the office.

How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Here are my top tips and hints to help you run

really bad virtual meetings:

Audio Punctuality Agenda Multi-tasking

Surprise Questions

Screenshare Feedback

How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Audio

Always use the speaker phone, particularly in a noisy office so that

attendees will sense that you are important, as they hear you

working in a busy and vibrant environment.

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Punctuality

Turn up absolutely on time. Not a minute before or after.

Although you might need to load slides into your virtual meeting

room for a couple of minutes whilst everyone waits around, it helps

people relax.

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Punctuality

Relationships are important so you can use this time bond with your

colleagues by talking about last night’s football score.

Around the world everyone loves football!

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Agenda

The great thing about virtual meetings is that participants can’t

actually see how unprepared you are.

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Agenda

The main thing is to sound confident, as you remember the three

most important things you think people should be discussing.

If you do this, they’ll think you really do have an agenda!

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Multi-tasking

Generally people find listening to other people’s opinions for long

periods of time a little tedious, particularly when you can’t even

see them!

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Multi-tasking

Multi-tasking is a new generation leadership skill so practice it

(social learning on the job is the new big thing!) by updating your

Facebook page as soon as you sense what someone is saying.

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Multi-tasking

When they finish, just say ‘that’s a really good point you’ve made’

and they’ll feel acknowledged.

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Surprise Questions

If you are ever caught by a surprise question that you either don’t

know the answer to, or you did not realize was actually addressed to

YOU, (because you were on FB) just say that you ‘agree with what

the last person said’.

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Surprise Questions

Even if you disagree later, you can blame it on a lack of context.

Alternatively just make a noise like ’’*£s &*$£s! and say ‘Sorry we’ve

got a really bad line here’, hang up, Google the answer and dial back

in. That demonstrates commitment.

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Screenshare

I generally recommend you avoid using screen share. It’s

complicated.

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Screenshare

No one else knows how to use it either and you don’t want people

peeking at unplanned private chat messages about the boss.

Screenshares really disrupt the flow of a meeting.

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Feedback

Remember that when everyone remains quiet as you make your

final resonant concluding statements, silence is normally a sign of

approval, respect and agreement for what you have said, so you

don’t need to waste the peoples time by asking for feedback.

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

Feedback

Apparently people from some cultures are always silent and won’t

say anything anyway, I’ve never had any complaints from them.

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How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

I hope this helps you and remember that great mantra:

think global ... but act local!

If you have any other bad advice or habits please email me at

spritchard@tmaworld.com

and we’ll set up a “REAL” virtual meeting :)

“ ”

How to Run a Great ‘Bad Virtual Meeting’

To learn more about how we can help your organization,

please contact us at

enquiries@tmaworld.com

or visit

http://www.tmaworld.com/training-solutions/