With their convenience, flexibility, and ability to communicate with teams around the world, online meetings have become a popular tool for businesses. But are they really effective?
In order to ensure a productive and fruitful meeting, you should follow a few tips. These will help you and your team get the most out of your online meetings.
| Have you tried Meetn, the new online meeting platform? It’s turning out to become a decent alternative to Zoom and to the other major platforms. |
They are convenient
Online meetings are a great way to engage with your team without having to physically meet them in person. They’re also more efficient than traditional in-person meetings because they allow everyone to participate on their own computers.
One of the best things about online meetings is that they’re easy to set up and use. There’s no need to pack up your desk or travel from home to the office, just log on and start meeting with a global audience in a matter of minutes.
Moreover, it’s much easier to schedule online meetings for the time that’s most convenient for your team members. It’s especially beneficial for those who work from a remote location or who want to avoid traveling.
They are flexible
For businesses that have a hybrid workforce with some employees working from home, online meetings are a great way to save time and money. Unlike traditional in-person meetings where attendees must travel to the meeting venue, online meetings can be scheduled on short notice and participants don’t have to leave their homes or offices.
A hybrid meeting is also a great way to keep people on the same page when they are in separate locations or time zones. Hybrid meeting software allows you to add remote employees and reschedule the meeting for another day or time if needed.
Getting the most out of your virtual meetings requires a combination of good technology, smart meeting planning and thoughtful engagement. For example, consider using a visual collaboration platform with interactive features and integrations that engage all your employees.
They are environmentally friendly
Online meetings are a great way to connect with colleagues and clients without having to travel. They are also environmentally friendly and can help you reduce your carbon footprint.
A recent study found that virtual conferences can be significantly more sustainable than in-person events. In fact, if the entire conference were held virtually instead of in person, it would result in a 94% reduction in the carbon footprint and a 90% decrease in cumulative energy demand (CED).
The study measured emissions related to the computers used by participants; video streaming during the meeting; search engine queries made by attendees and pre-conference planning meetings. The results show that these activities account for only 11% of the overall emissions, but they are still a significant contributor.
In addition, the study identified that transportation emissions are the biggest contributor to the conference’s environmental impact. This can be attributed to the conference’s location and the geographical distribution of its participants.
They are effective
Online meetings can be effective and efficient for small teams, but they are less effective for large teams. Home internet quality also affects online meeting efficiency.
One way to increase engagement and keep remote workers involved is to use video during a remote meeting. This will counter social loafing, a human tendency to reduce effort when working with others.
Another way to boost participation is to organize a poll or survey during the meeting. These polls allow you to gauge how well the group is working together, and can be a great way to gather feedback in real time.
In addition to using the tools you already have, it’s important to sharpen your agenda so that everyone is clear on what the purpose of the meeting is. This can be done by framing the agenda as questions rather than topics, which makes it easier to track and capture new ideas and information.