“You have joined the meeting.”

Welcome to 2020, folks, where nothing is normal but “normal” looks different.

Working from home has prompted plenty of changes to our daily routines, some more easily adaptable than others. One work-in-progress aspect is how we meet, which has seen video conferencing companies become some of the fastest growing in the world.

We’ve mentioned this before, but “Zoom” has almost become a verb. It’s now part of what we do.

From research done by TrustRadius, the “web and video conferencing category for business technology saw a 500% increase in buyer activity since the COVID-19 outbreak began. 67% of companies increased their spending strategy for video conferencing too.”

And, you know what? It’s OK if video calls aren’t comfortable or familiar yet. Change is rarely easy and while this technology is meant to make connecting easier, it’s been seldom used by many workers until recently. If you’re in the office, odds are you’re meeting in person. As most of us are not in the office, we’ve had to make adjustments.

Let’s talk about how to ace the video call, whether you’re an organizer or a participant. By doing it right, you can make your life easier and make the calls more productive and enjoyable for everyone involved.

Tip #1: Understand Your Technology

Ah yes, technology. We love it. We dread it. And we learn to live with it.

One common thread in most video calls is that someone will be tripped up by the technology. They’re on mute, their camera isn’t turned on or the camera is upside down (we’ve seen it all, to be honest). There’s real value in employers taking time to explain video conferencing technology with employees before going all-in, but even if you’re months in and experiencing some of these same issues, it may be a good time to hit the reset button.

Most people will appreciate that you’ve identified a problem and are making an effort to help.

“Understanding technology both from a hardware and software standpoint is a critical component to successful video calls,” said Lindsay Berstling, Instructional Designer for The HON Company. “The goal of this technology is to make things efficient, and wasted time is the last thing you want.”

Tip #2: Nail the Visuals

We know...it’s tempting to shut the camera off if you’re late getting out of bed or if you’re just not feeling yourself that day.

But it’s a video call, after all. The look is important.

“When you’re working from home, who knows what’s going to happen?” Berstling said.

“It’s easy to roll out of bed, not do your hair or get ready, because this is the norm now. But you have to treat video calls and meetings as though you were actually in the office. You want to present the proper vibe for the call. The way you present yourself from a visual standpoint is huge.”

Companies like Zoom have gotten creative with additional visual elements of video calls, too. You can add or create custom backdrops (if you’re dreaming of the beach, or just a really big fan of koalas, there’s something for everyone) and make it your own.

While the business aspect is important, you should feel comfortable having fun with it, too. If we can’t have fun in this strange new world, we aren’t doing it right.

Tip #3: Content Rules the Video Call Kingdom

No one wants to have a meeting for the sake of having a meeting.

Unproductive meetings are costly, to the tune of approximately $37 billion a year. Yikes.

Preparing for any meeting is a critical step, but it holds more weight when you’re gathering people for a video call. It’s all in the delivery, says Berstling. An on-topic, to-the-point meeting keeps your team engaged and makes the best use of everyone’s time. You’ll get more out of meetings if they’re organized and useful.

“It’s so key to think about what you are delivering on the call,” Berstling said. “This holds true for every meeting, and not just a video call. You should be thinking about your content, making sure you’re succinct and still delivering the right message in a clear, concise and cohesive manner.

“We can always be selling ourselves better and selling our message better. This will make us successful in any meeting, whether it’s in an actual meeting space or on a video call.”

Bonus Tip: It’s Going to Be OK

If there’s one high-level takeaway from this, it’s to take everything in stride.

Stuff happens. The world is weird right now. We’re all adjusting.

If your camera won’t turn on, no big deal. Just make sure the microphone is working and you can be heard. Tech issues happen and they will continue to happen—it’s the world we live in. We love technology that connects us, but we can never truly depend on it.

Just remember: we’re all going through the same thing.

For more tips on productive meetings, video calls and how to crush the Zoom game, visit hon.com.