In-person meetings are being cancelled left and right, changing up workflows and causing many in-person programs to look for digital solutions.
The Upside of “Face à Face”
We know that in-person connections can’t be beaten. They help you empathize and allow you to better understand the person, with the help of body language. It also increases your ability to make small talk about the day, and other common experiences that both people endure. For all of these reasons, building trust is easier in person.
The Downside… Traffic
In-person meetings often take up more time than just the interaction. You need to commute to get there and find a common meeting place and time. We don’t have to go into the risks of in-person events right now. We are sure you have enough information coming your way on that topic. #COVID19.
In-person meetings encourage us to only meet with people in our own cities and often share our own mindsets. Video calls open up the world to unlimited connections, helping us expand our perspective. Here are some tips to navigate these e-connections with a human-first approach.
1. Start Fresh, Every Hour
Hour after hour of continuous video calls can be exhausting. One thing that we don’t consider is that our mood or expression can roll over from call to call. We bring emotional baggage of each and every call along to the next one.
We suggest a mental reset: pause, breathe, and smile. Generally, the assumption is that we smile because we had a great meeting and scowl because we are upset. Now, research shows it’s the other way around: by creating a positive facial expression you can uplift your mood. Time to show those teeth! 😄
2. Set An Agenda and Stay Focused
A more formal settings allows us to set a very clear agenda, and you should do the same for video calls. We don’t want to take away the spontaneity of conversation but it is important te remain focused. It will keep everyone aligned and on track throughout your video call, and make everyone feel included by explaining the goal of the call.
Another upside: video calls help you to stop multitasking. Can you remember a time when you heard keys typing, papers rustling, or even a dish clanging on a conference call? You KNEW that the person wasn’t being present. Video calls force you to be present!
3. Don’t Replace Communicating with Social Media
“Design your networking strategy around people, not platforms,” states the author of, “Build your Dream Network”, J Kelly Hoey. We have to remember that “liking” a comment on a colleague’s slack message, or sending emojis 🎉 does not show the same amount of support as verbal encouragement. By creating the time and space to connect on a video call, we open up the opportunity to hear everyone’s opinion and how they are actually feeling.
From the beginning, Mentorly has believed in the power of virtual video calls. It allows you to remain personal, without the hassle of travelling and frees up more time in your schedule to allow for the important things: friends, family and of course: mentorship. So enjoy your video calls this week because for now, it may be your best option.
