How to Stay Productive During Virtual Meetings

by Graham Peterson

We’ve all been there. You create a Zoom meeting with your team hoping to make good progress on a big project. Everyone joins, only to sit stagnant in an awkward silence making absolutely no progress.

There’s no doubt that team dynamics have changed as a result of the pandemic, and being there is no end in sight for meetings in a virtual environment, it might be a little worrisome to think about having to continue operating in this fashion. Luckily, by following a few tips, it is possible to regain control of your meetings and actually get stuff done.

First tip, put your phone away, or at least try looking at it less. With Zoom calls, it can be very tempting to give in to distractions around you, one of those being your phone. Whether by hiding your phone or by using productivity apps such as Opal, you can mitigate distractions to enhance productivity.

Second tip, grab a pad of paper and pen and start taking notes. Research shows that handwritten notes are more engaging and allow for a higher degree of information transferring than digital notes. By taking notes or writing ideas down during meetings, you can bridge the gap between the physical and virtual world and allow yourself to become more immersed in whatever task you have presented before you.

Final tip, avoid unnecessary Zoom meetings. We’ve all had the thought “This could have been an email” at least once before, and to an extent, there is truth in that. Zoom fatigue is a real thing and by burdening yourself with pointless Zoom calls, the process may become monotonous and detract from meetings that actually matter. So, if you can effectively communicate with your team through a medium other than Zoom, do yourself and your team a favor and just send that email.