With much of the country currently working from home, meetings are increasingly taking place online, where previous assumptions of how to be effective and stand out no longer apply, said the Harvard Business Review. Without a physical presence, putting forward ideas that people will take seriously requires a new set of behaviors that fit the digital world. For one, said the HBR, remember to look at the camera, not the screen, as this is the closest thing we have to eye contact in these circumstances. People should also remember not to be either too far from the camera, which will make you seem distant, or too close, which disrupts visibility. Further, remember you're on camera and that people can see if you space out or go do something else, which makes you look disengaged and uninterested in what someone is saying. (And while this may be the case, just like in a physical meeting it pays to at least pretend). The article also advises that you become familiar with the controls of your program beforehand, lest you disrupt the meeting with background noise because you forgot to mute, or no one can hear you because you configured your microphone wrong. Also, we should take advantage of the unique opportunities presented by this shift, such as using the chat window to share links and other information to supplement what you're saying. One thing that hasn't changed, though, is the need to use a strong voice to make sure your point comes across clearly. While it may be tempting to use a conversational tone, people will pay more attention if you use your meeting voice instead.

The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, is reporting that the increase in online meetings is giving many an up front view of their co-workers' lives covering thing like questionable interior decorating choices, the cleanliness of their homes (or lack thereof), and how they are around their spouses.