1.2 Remote attendance at meetings

Increasingly, individuals are expected to participate in meetings remotely, meaning that attendees may not all be in the same room. As organisations become increasingly collaborative and extend their contacts across the globe, many have moved to use platforms such as Skype to undertake group or one-to-one meetings.

Not being physically present with co-attendees can add communication pressures. For example, you may not be able to see facial expressions and body language. This can hamper your ability to grasp how your (or someone else’s) point has been received or understood.

To combat this situation, it is important to deliberately check with other attendees. For example, you may wish to ask others what they think about that point. Perhaps ask individuals by name, rather than opening up your questions to everyone attending.

Getting as much practice as you can will build confidence in participating in such meetings. Using platforms such as Skype can feel daunting so try to familiarise yourself with the tool.

If possible, start with one-to-one or smaller groups, perhaps with a friend, family or colleague who is similarly cautious about the technology.