Create a Fun Video/Zoom Meetings Etiquette Guide

Jul 22, 2021

Clipping toenails on a Zoom meeting? Yes, that actually happened. Evidentially, some employees still haven’t received the memo about how to present themselves professionally and effectively during video meetings!  And video meetings aren’t going away! Ever!  So why not create a fun top-10 list or short, fun guide for your employees? 

Create a Fun Video Meetings Guide Book

Now, I know we’ve all been doing the video meeting thing for a long time now, but you know what? It’s not going away anytime soon, video meetings are always going to be with us, and according to a lot of surveys, a lot of stories, and based on a lot of comments from my clients, apparently some people aren’t getting the memo when it comes to proper etiquette when they are meeting in a video situation. People are doing things like trimming their toenails in front of their colleagues, or even, yes, their clients while having a video meeting! Perhaps not the best way to present a professional image!

So why not create a funny top-10 list or a funny video meeting rules of the road etiquette guide for your employees? 

You can use this for all your new employees that are coming on board that maybe aren’t familiar with video etiquette, and as a reminder to all of your employees to put their best face forward, their most professional face forward. Include some serious tips, like turn off all your mobile phones or put them out of reach so you’re not attempted to be distracted and multitask, close all your other windows on your computer so you remain focused, introduce yourself with your name when you ask a question or present a comment so we know where this voice is coming from, and make use of the icons to engage and send a reaction message as you’re having your meetings.

Include some serious tips like those, but also weave in some plain fun tips!

For example, if your pet walks by in the background, please make sure you say hello from us or take the time to introduce your pet because we want to meet your pet, or please make sure the lighting is set appropriately, we don’t want you to look like you’re about to tell a scary campfire story, or be aware of UFO’s in the background, unidentified freaky objects, that may be highly embarrassing if people identify what they actually are! Or perhaps here’s an idea, make sure you’re dressed before the video meeting starts! Or put up a “Do Not Disturb Video Meeting In Progress” sign on your home office door to make sure your shirtless brother-in-law doesn’t accidentally stumble into the wrong room during our video meeting!

And what about you? What drives you nuts when it comes to etiquette in video meetings? What have you seen that’s weird that’s just a huge pet peeve for you and what you’re doing in your workplace to make sure that people understand basic video meeting etiquette? Please leave a comment in the comment below, and if you haven’t yet subscribed to my Inspiring Workplaces channel, please do so. Join our growing community as we talk about inspiring workplaces that rock.

Michael Kerr is a Canadian Hall of Fame business speaker who speak on inspiring workplace cultures. He is the author of 8 books, including The Jerk-Free Workplace and The Humor Advantage.