Visio-conferencing has become our lifeline to the outside world. While it's been common for some time and we've all used it at some point in the past decade or so, we are now forced to learn how to use it fast, as the best-available substitute to in-person interactions. Here an un-comprehensive guide to running a zoom meeting, based on my casual observations through dozens of calls over the last little while. If you want an ultra-comprehensive guide to running zoom meetings, check this one.
Human considerations: It's now pretty clear that our evolved need to interact socially without others, hasn't just vanished because we're isolation. Everyone is CRAVING connection in one form or another and video-conference is the closest thing we have. Levity is a very useful tool and so are gamified introduction exercises: A favourite of mine is to have people write the answers to your questions, such as "What do you do?" and "What do you need help with?" down on paper and hold their answers up in front of the camera for everyone to see. Take a screenshot and voila! You have something to share with your attendees so they can connect offline based on their own interests.
Avoid politics (it goes nowhere) and make sure to respond to people's interests and cues. If one pays attention to what's being said, there is a ton of stuff to bounce off of and keep the conversation going.
Keep the large group discussions to a minimum. A 15+ person conversation will very soon turn to chaos unless a handful are talking and the rest is listening, but if that's the case you have to be clear on who's who. It's never a bad idea to establish the rules of engagement at the beginning. A bit tedious, but useful if people stray. Assign co-host who we act as enforcers if need be.
Check out tomorrow for the second part on the technical side of zoom.
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