Tips For Productive Online Meetings For Brokers And Sellers
It is nearly impossible to continue business without conducting regular meetings. In the world of real-estates meetings are a crucial part of any deal. In the present, when the world as a whole is fighting a global pandemic, face-to-face business meetings do not seem to be a feasible option. Connecting online via various software tools allows businesses to run and keep up with their momentum. Online sessions will connect you with people from across the globe, buyers and sellers can meet each other, and work can continue.
But just like a formal office room meeting, an online meeting also has some rules and guidelines. Failing to adhere to these will lead to an unproductive meeting. Since most of us are new to this culture of online meetings, we must take special care in maintaining its norms and etiquette.
In this article, we will look at the essential tips that you must follow for every online meeting.
Set-up a proper work environment
The meeting place should have a formal setting. Avoid areas in your house where there are a lot of disturbances. Try not to have the meeting in your kitchen or living room. Set up a dedicated space for work and online meetings devoid of any unnecessary noise and disturbances.
Dress Properly
You might be at home, but the meeting is formal in every sense. It is imperative that you deck up in proper attire, groom yourself properly, and make yourself presentable. This would give the impression that you are serious about the meeting, and your clients will take your inputs seriously. Since your upper portion is only visible, you need not focus much on the bottom wear.
Check the Connectivity
You would not want your presentation to stop in between, or would not want to get disconnected from the meeting. It is advised that you check your devices, network connections, and the software that you would be using. If need be, you can make a dummy presentation and check whether everything is running smoothly or not. Remember, you would not get multiple opportunities to make an immaculate and impressive impression.
Background & Lighting
Check the background setting and the lighting of the meeting place beforehand. It should not be so bright that it almost blinds your colleagues or clients; neither should it be so dark that your face becomes invisible. For the background, you can choose any neutral setting. Maybe a bookshelf or even simpler a white bedsheet would be a great option. Many online meeting applications allow you to choose and set a virtual background for yourself.
Be Polite
Like we have discussed before, all the rules of a formal meeting apply to an online meeting. You must be polite and courteous enough to listen to others' opinions. Never should you interrupt when another speaker is speaking. Use options for raising hands, or notifying the speaker if you have anything to communicate. Remember to comply with all business etiquettes.
Be careful during screen sharing
When you have to present your screen, make sure that you close all other unwanted tabs on your screen. Most applications allow you to share specific items on your monitor (single tab, window, or only the presentation). Also, ensure that once you are done, stop the sharing immediately. No one would want to see your personal emails or chats in an online meeting.
Finally, remember to conclude effectively. The ending of a meeting plays a crucial role in deciding whether it was a fruitful discussion. Try to summarize the points discussed in the online conference and identify a clear call to action. You can also decide on the follow-up tasks and schedule the next meeting. Online meetings are a brilliant way to maintain connectivity and business during emergency times like these. Remember that business etiquettes for meetings follow everywhere, be it in your office or your home.
Article written by Neha Khanna