Insights / Professional & Executive Communication
How do I handle online meetings and the camera together?
Keep the camera on when you are leading the conversation, and use small mental cues to move from one idea to the next instead of searching for each word. Your content may already be clear. The camera is a second thing to manage.
The situation
The content was clear. The camera wasn’t easy.
A learner had facilitated an online discussion between departments about a change request. He explained the benefits of both options.
Using the camera was still something he struggled with.
The breakdown
Two things to manage at once.
On a call you are leading the discussion and appearing on screen at the same time. Searching for each word while you are on camera makes both harder.
What I work on
Camera on, cues ready.
I discussed two things with him: keeping the camera on when facilitating, and using small mental cues to move between ideas instead of searching for each word.
A cue is a short reminder of the next idea, not a script.
Practice
Prepare the cues before the call.
- Before your next online meeting, note one short cue for each idea you need to cover.
- Keep the camera on while you lead.
- When you finish an idea, use the next cue to move on instead of searching for wording.
Keep going
Related reading.
Arjun Lyngdoh · Founder and lead coach of NESkills, with 21 years of communication training. About Arjun
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