Working from home as a one-man show is a relatively simple process: setup your computer, connect to a secure network, and start working. On the other hand, running a remote meeting can be a much more challenging task that takes planning and preparation to pull off in a way that is successful and productive for the team as a whole.
Thankfully, modern technology has provided an incredible set of tools that allow for constant communication, file sharing, and real-time collaboration so that teams around the world are able to maintain their workflows from the comfort and safety of their homes (or wherever they may be).
How to Share Emails and Messages Between Outlook and Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a cutting-edge team collaboration and communication software. With the ability to support meetings of up to 350 users, Teams is able to bring organizations together from around the world and keep every person on the same page with the latest information.
Installing and testing any software – including Microsoft Teams – is an important part of ensuring that all settings are appropriately configured, system permissions are granted, and hardware is ready to go.
While many aren’t fond of the idea of being on camera, having a face-to-face connection with someone (albeit digital) goes a long way in creating efficient and effective communication. Without having a visual connection to the other members of your team, many of them will mentally log out of the call entirely.
Depending on the importance of the call, a simple VoIP call may suffice. However, for small- to medium-sized group meetings, having video creates a more personable tone and adds a layer of accountability for everyone on the call to stay involved.
Maintaining a schedule is an important part of every routine, but it becomes especially important when working remotely. If you are the meeting’s organizer, starting on time signifies to attendees that a virtual meeting is just as important as a physical meeting. In fact, kicking things off early accounts for any additional time required to iron out connectivity or hardware issues before diving into the matters at hand.
This strategy should be adopted for all types of meetings, but actively engaging with each person involved in a remote meeting encourages every person to pay attention and follow the conversation so that they can continue to contribute when they’re called on to share their thoughts.
While very different from a traditional meeting, remote meetings are a great way to stay connected with your team from anywhere in the world. By double-checking the technology, maintaining a prompt schedule, and actively engaging as much as possible, a remote meeting has the potential to be just as successful as a meeting in-person (if not even more so!)