DigiWorks

Guide to Keep your Focus During Video Conferences

Feb 13, 2023 • 4 min read

guide to keep your focus during video conferences

Whether you are working in the office or remotely, you probably once joined a meeting with your team. It is important when discussing relevant topics, brainstorming for future projects, and communicating with your colleagues. However, the remote setting has a significant turn with meetings as you might find yourself in a video conference rather than in the usual meeting room.

One of the main problems remote workers find with video meetings is being distracted by their environment. Once you turn off your camera, it is easy to go back to your bed or do your house chores, leaving you completely unaware of what the team just discussed. If you want to stay focused when video calling with your colleagues, follow these tips from DigiWorks!

1. Take away all possible factors that might cause distractions.

It is difficult to inhale the information from the speaker when you have multiple distractions in your surroundings. That could be your additional monitor with irrelevant tabs opened, notifications that keep popping up from your phone, and pets that constantly ask for your attention.

Turn off your additional monitor and close irrelevant tabs to keep you from searching other things on your computer’s browser. Put your phone on silent or aeroplane mode to disable all notifications and avoid scrolling on your social media accounts. You can also put the meeting in full-screen to avoid being distracted from the tabs working in the background. It might be challenging to resist the urge to peek at your phone or open some websites, but it is important to stay active and participate during video calls.

You’ll learn:

  • What type of remote workers are there?
  • Why are fully remote teams good for companies?
  • How do people work remotely?
  • What are some common misconceptions about remote work?
  • What is a remote worker?
  • How Remote Work Benefits Employees
  • Jobs that can be done remotely
  • Hiring a remote worker

Ready to build your remote team?

Use the DigiWorks platform to hire, manage, and pay remote talent from all over the world.

2. Takedown important information

Note-taking is one of the most effective ways to stay focused during a video conference. In that way, it is easier for you to understand the topic, keep track of the current discussion, and remember what the speaker is talking about. Additionally, that will help you boost your creativity and give suggestions or feedback during the video call.

Writing notes is very easy, and all you need is a pen and paper. If you have access to high-tech gadgets, you can also use your tablet or other screens to chat down your notes and use highlighters or other creative tools to make it look more organised. However, writing by hand helps efficiently process the information and remember important details.

3. Grab a snack

It is difficult to stay attentive in virtual meetings and actively listen to the speaker when you don’t have energy. Make sure to grab healthy snacks and drinks to relieve your empty stomach and stay hydrated. You can choose nuts, energy bars, oatmeal, cookies, and veggie chips if you want healthier options.

4. Prepare feedback, input, and suggestions.

Think of it as if it is a class recitation, and you are required to give your thoughts regarding the topic. That will help you stay focused and understand the discussion well in order to come up with a relevant comment or suggestion.

5. Set up your workspace in a quiet room

Distractions often come from the loud noises from your surroundings, such as an open television, chatting roommates, construction sites, chirping birds, or barking dogs. If you want to give your full attention to your virtual meeting, occupy a space that has minimal noise. If that is not possible, use headphones to minimise the sounds around you and maximise the audio from the call. It will also help you understand the speaker well and have a better understanding of the topic.

6. Actively participate in the discussion.

Participating is not just about giving suggestions but also doing what the speaker says. That includes clicking reaction buttons, utilising the comment section, asking questions, and answering the inquiries of the speaker. You can also volunteer to help organise the meeting, such as admitting participants from the waiting room, sharing your screen for presentations, or helping with technical malfunctions. Your participation will not just improve the flow of the whole meeting, but will also help you concentrate on the call.

7. Open your camera

It is easy to open a call on your laptop and get back to sleep if the participants or meeting hosts cannot see what you are doing. If you want to stay focused on the meeting, leave your camera on throughout the virtual conference. That will push you to participate since everyone can monitor what you are doing and see if you are listening or not.

Ready to build your remote team?

Use the DigiWorks platform to hire, manage, and pay remote talent from all over the world.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that remote workers are no different than anyone else. They still require the same basic workplace skills such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving, leadership, planning, and decision-making. But they also need to possess certain traits specific to remote workers. For example, remote workers must be comfortable multitasking, self-motivated and flexible.

To ensure that you hire the best candidates for your team, consider hiring someone who already works remotely. You’ll save yourself the hassle of training and onboarding them. And if you decide to go down the remote route, make sure you offer flexibility and transparency throughout the process.

Remote workers are an important part of a growing number of businesses. They help employees work faster, improve customer experience, and save money. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to hiring one, DigiWorks is an amazing solution. The DigiWorks team will connect you with a global talent pool so you can find someone who is a great fit for you and your business!