The Ultimate Guide to Online Meeting Appearance & Etiquette.
Are you looking to make a great impression on your next Zoom call? Whether you're interviewing for a job, meeting with clients, or just catching up with friends and family, your appearance and etiquette matter.
Here's our ultimate guide to nailing your etiquette so you can impress. Because let's face it, just because you're sat at home, doesn't mean you shouldn't look and be your best.
The Basics
Let’s start with the basics because although it may sound obvious, these are the most common faux pas when it comes to online meetings.
First up, software. Ultimately, this should be easy to use; secure & functional. Take some time to learn how to do the basics, like sharing your screen or even muting your mic. Trust us, you’ll thank yourself when you’ve narrowly missed getting caught calling your boss “a merchant banker” in the middle of a meeting.
When it comes to location, always choose a quiet and private environment to aid concentration. That means no pets or children. We’re big fans of noise-cancelling headphones to really help us block out any noise.
Beyond these base requirements, there are some useful areas to focus on for the best look and etiquette. As a Kingsman might say, “Manners Maketh Man”; as well as us agreeing with their love of “The art of tailoring”, their impeccable manners are there to be admired.
Punctuality
Always arrive a few minutes early and make sure your equipment is working properly. If you’re the organiser, keep to the agreed agenda and time. It’s probably safest to have an aging laptop plugged in. Some weekly catchups can drag on, and it’s not a good move to have the battery die on you. Although, if the financial director is still banging on about his latest spreadsheet triumph, it could be used as a one-off excuse.
Mic On/Off
Unless you’re talking, place yourself on mute. Feedback and background noise are distracting for everyone. Having others hear your other half call you a “useless bastard”, for not putting the bins out, is less than ideal.
Join Video or Stay Covert
Certainly, it’s more interactive and intuitive for all involved to be on camera. However, its fully understandable that if during the meeting, you need to step away, that you use the video off button. Similarly, if you just haven’t made it out of bed, best stay off camera, no one wants to see your pyjamas or lack of. See Attire section.
Background
Dependent upon your audience, this can play a massive part. Let’s face it yours might need hiding, whether it’s your undercrackers drying on the radiator, or your “hit me baby one more time” poster, both are NSFW (to be fair they’re just NSFA). So, you can choose your own background and even place yourself on a beach. Providing a constant background can be very advantageous, especially if you’re being naughty and you’re somewhere you’re not meant to be.
Attention
Whilst hearing the latest news from the HR department on “how you must address your fellow person”, might not be of the greatest interest to you, it is still good manners to at least look like you’re paying attention. So, it’s best not to be furiously typing on your keyboard (especially without mute activated) and try and keep your facial expression to ones of interest. Nose picking is never a good look, and whilst the contents of your inner nasal passages may seem of far greater interest than the current topic, it’s really a no go.
Sneaky side messaging to your colleagues, although making such events so much more bearable, should also be banned. Creating, typing and submitting messages, might well provide an initial focused look, but ultimately can be too amusing for all parties involved to keep straight faces. There’s also the inherent danger of sending the message to all, or indeed posting on the wrong channel.
Protect your Information
Make sure you’re only sharing what you should be. Having Shakira as She Wolf, as your choice of desktop image, might not adhere to the cultural values of today’s HR department. However, you can share individual software programs rather than your entire desktop. Just remember if you’re sharing your browser, it’s best not to have your latest searches on show. No one needs to see you are investigating an online Hub, for a Rim. Your future change of alloy wheels is your own secret.
Getting your best look
Eat before or after, no one wants to see or hear it. Remember, the camera angle is your friend. Make sure that you’re close enough to the camera so you can convey facial expressions. If you sit too far back, your face is not much more than a dot. A great feature on some software is the filter. It does a great job of hiding your hangover eyebags; and is cheaper and less intrusive than tear trough fillers.
Attire
This could be called the “Anchorman”* look. No, we’re not talking 70’s fashion with severely oversized lapels. We just mean, the focus is on everything visible above the waste. *Before we get attacked by the gender-neutral brigade, “It is Anchorman, not Anchorlady! And that is a scientific fact!” – Champ Kind. Ties, there are some who believe they should still be donned for certain meetings. We don’t think your compatibility to complete a job competently, should be held to account on a largely virtuous item from yesteryear, but ultimately, it’s your choice.
Remember, when you look good you feel good, so look the part and own the meeting. Your choice of shirt should provide classic lines proving your intent to work, but give you flexibility for movement, so you don’t look like the connection has frozen. Solid colours work better than checks or stripes, which can upset some camera feeds. Colour coordination with your background is not completely necessary, but it’s best not to clash.
Smart Casual has been an overused term but is eponymous for the level you should be aiming for. As you know if you’ve read “3 Fashion Flips for shirts” there are varying degrees of adjustment to our shirts to swing you one way more than another. Ultimately, as mentioned it’s all about your top half, just remember to switch your camera off when you stand up, if you’re going “online-meeting commando”.
Wolf and Baller – Distinctively you!