Creative tips on video calling

A screen capture of the call hosted by Eden Project Communities via Zoom

For many people, one of the challenges of working from home during this pandemic has been learning how to use a wide array of different technologies to complete certain tasks and stay connected with people. Here’s some tips from our Dudley Project Administrator, Gavin…

Very quickly it seemed that a lot of people were suffering some fatigue with regards to having constant communication via video conferencing and I wanted to explore the approaches which other people are adopting to make this method of working more enjoyable.

Last week I discovered a meeting being hosted by Eden Project Communities via Zoom which focused around a sharing of how people have begun moving their communities online.

The area of discussion that seemed to spark the most interest amongst the group was the exploration of how a more meaningful connection could be made on a video call and how these conversations could be made more interactive.

Here are a few of the tips that I found useful:

Ice Breakers: Although, like a lot of people, I sometimes find this to be the worst part of a meeting, I actually really enjoyed the one they opened with. As there were multiple members present, the group were split into two smaller groups (via a breakout room feature set up by the host) for a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Each mini-group had to collectively decide which one to play and then when the groups were all back together, they had to show their selection after a count of three.

The game continued for a few rounds and was a fun way to begin. Also, one of the hosts performed an interactive magic trick that bamboozled the participants and I even recently heard of someone that attempted a virtual Mexican wave!

Interactivity: As mentioned above, incorporating interactivity is essential in engaging with people. Everyone has something to share so encourage interaction with all participants. This could be done through ice breakers, sharing stories, reflections, skills and helping others in problem-solving.

You can also use the chat function during a meeting to share further ideas, links to resources and documents. For example, Jamboard by Google is an interactive canvas that can be used by everyone in a chat to add their ideas to. Also documents created in One Drive, Googledrive and other cloud-based services can be shared for participants to add their contact details or to obtain feedback.

Length of meetings: The general consensus was that video meetings shouldn’t be too long. Most people felt that between 60-90 minutes was a suitable length. For any meeting longer than this, it was advised that a short comfort break should be included as it has been found to be an effective way for people to regain focus.

Background: Try changing your background to something more visually interesting. Rather than just blurring your background or sitting in front of a part of your house that doesn’t need decorating, why not change your background to something more vibrant and colourful? A lot of people in the group found this to be a simple but effective way of creating a more relaxed atmosphere.

You can upload your own image or see if the provider you are using has any saved presets. This will also avoid any potentially embarrassing moments like that clip where a live video interview on BBC news was interrupted when the interviewee’s children gatecrashed the room (if you haven’t seen it, then have a look later, it’s hilarious).

Here a few more tips by Communication Consultant, Simeon Courtie here.

Eden Project Communities will continue to host network meet-ups and online workshops every Wednesday from 12.30pm. To take part, simply register here.