Remaining Present in Online Meetings, with Sue Hawkes

Listen in for a special episode with What the HR! Podcast. Sue speaks with hosts Mike Thul and Jessie Novey about virtual meetings and how to remain engaged and present while still preserving your energy.

Engagement happens because you’re present, which means finding new ways to ensure that your video call audience is fully present is critical. Sue shares how utilizing technology and asking questions helps make her meetings engaging.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

• Why you should choose a virtual meeting over a phone call
• How to preserve energy and remain present for mandatory video meetings
• How to keep your audience engaged during virtual meetings
• What leaders should do to better connect with their employees virtually
• When is it appropriate and not appropriate to use video in meetings
• How to prevent fatigue from video calls
• Should leaders require cameras to be on or left optional
• How to have difficult or serious conversations on video
• What ways can leaders monitor employee engagement in a remote work setting

Resources:

• What the HR! website: https://www.tcshrm.org/page/podcast
• Online Learning Community: https://yess.learnworlds.com/
• Online Learning Community: yess.learnworlds.com
• Website: https://www.sayyess.com/
• Books: https://www.sayyess.com/books/
• LinkedIn:
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/suehawkes/
  • https://www.linkedin.com/company/suehawkesyess/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YESScoaching
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SueHawkesYESS

Preserving Energy

The pandemic has accelerated remote work for many organizations, and this has led a lot of people to have “ZOOM fatigue.” It’s important to set up your schedule in a way that allows you to bring as much of yourself to all of your meetings and each virtual interaction. In this episode of the Intentional Greatness® podcast, Sue shares how she organizes her schedule to preserve energy, allowing her best self to show up on calls.

Maintaining Engagement

People are capable of sitting down and watching a five-hour Superbowl game, but often struggle to sit through an hour-long meeting. Leaders must learn how to facilitate meetings in a way that keeps the audience engaged. People participate differently in larger meetings, so using techniques like asking questions and using rooms to put people in smaller groups to have a more intimate conversation is key.

Creating Connection

Leaders are struggling to keep the water cooler conversation alive in a remote work setting. People are busy, which causes leaders to be hesitant to put another meeting on the calendar, even if it is for fun. The most respectful way for leaders to connect with their employees is to ask them what works best. Some may want an informal one-on-one meeting, while others may prefer to have a monthly virtual happy hour. The key is to ask, and know that it is okay for someone to change their mind.