Remote Meeting Etiquette: 4 Rules That Every Professional Should Follow
Bed meetings and no showers – remote etiquette needs a reboot
The way we connect at work has transformed. Gone are the days of in-person meetings only as the pandemic pushed us into the digital realm. With tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, collaboration has never been more accessible. However, with 29% taking meetings for bed and 42% going days without a shower, many remote workers take a business casual approach – but even when working from home, it’s important to keep it professional. Amid National Etiquette Week, observed from May 19 to 25, Cindy Cavoto, a certified productivity coach at the Headway app, shares her four essential Zoom meeting etiquette rules – to stay professional without overdoing it.
1. Dress for the screen (from the waist up)
Virtual meetings have redefined our work attire. Although your colleagues won’t expect you to show up to an early-morning Zoom call in a three-piece suit, that musty hoodie you’ve spent the last three days in? Swap it for a clean top and run a brush through your hair while you’re at it. You can keep the joggers on – what you’re wearing off-camera is your business – but at least give the illusion that you’re ready to work. Your dress code may be a little more informal if you’re on a video call with colleagues, but with clients or executives, you may want to dress up. Here you should actually have the same level of formality that you would if it was a face-to-face meeting.
2. Spare your colleagues from the background noise
Yes, in a hybrid working environment there are usually a whole lot more distractions and background noise. Barking dogs, Amazon deliveries, and neighbors mowing the lawn – background noise is part of the job of working remotely. Your colleagues will understand, but that doesn’t mean they want to fight to be heard. If you’re not the one talking, hit mute.
3. Avoid the temptation to multitask
Sure, your inbox is overflowing and Instagram is calling your name, but avoid the temptation to multitask. People can tell when you’re just nodding along, drafting a shopping list in your head, or doomscrolling on another tab. If you’re in the meeting, be in the meeting. Attendance isn’t good enough – you need to engage.
4. Check your connection – and have a backup plan
Working remotely means you can do your job from anywhere, whether in your bedroom, backyard, or on the beach. However, nobody wants to suffer through a meeting of stuttering audio, frozen faces, and constant disconnections. Before jumping on a call, check that your connection is up to the task. And even if it seems okay, always have a plan B: an ample supply of mobile data.
