With increasing numbers of remote staff linking up by video call, employees must navigate the frustrations of technology while coping with seeing themselves onscreen.

If your employees are logging in and zoning out, here’s our tips to keep them focused.

1. Write an agenda

A schedule or agenda will help employees stay focused during video meetings, particularly if they’re likely to be over an hour long. A breakdown of the topics you’re going to cover and the order you’ll discuss them helps you and your staff allocate time and attention to each individual subject.

Websites like Miro.com set you up with an agenda template telling employees what to expect before, during and after a meeting. This tool will also help you ascertain what was achieved during the meeting, and reflect on the points covered.

2. Cut some slack

If the meeting could be an email, could it also have been an instant message? Business messaging software like Slack and Twist allow seamless communication without having to assemble for a video call.

This saves valuable time and allows you to speak to specific members of staff in appropriate threads, so that each communication remains relevant to everyone involved.

3. Switch off the selfies

Although filters on video meeting software can ‘soften’ your appearance, it might be wise to instruct all employees to switch off their self-view when the meeting begins. This saves them becoming distracted by their own wrinkles and double chins, or fixing their hair and posing when they forget everyone can see them.

You will still be able to see them and keep an eye on whether they are paying attention.

4. Close extra tabs

It sometimes feels like there are hundreds of tabs running in our brains, as well as our screens. To limit distractions, keep meetings short and instruct your colleagues to close off their screens (and brains!) to other tasks while the meeting takes place.

Have them close down their inbox and other tabs before the meeting begins. Not only will this improve overall focus and concentration for the meeting, it will also ensure there are fewer mistakes on the other tasks they’re racing to complete.

5. Encourage regular screen breaks

Anyone sitting in front of a screen eight hours a day is likely to become fatigued, whether they’re in back-to-back Zoom meetings or staring at an overflowing inbox. This can be worsened by a work-from-home environment, where there are no colleagues to plan coffee breaks or lunch with.

Encouraging your staff to talk a walk outside will freshen their perspective, give them a little breathing space and allow them to return to their to-do list with new eyes.

6. Pick up the phone

Sometimes it’s necessary to open the forum for a wider spectrum of opinions, but reaching out to colleagues individually could be far more effective than hauling them all into a virtual meeting.

If you feel your staff have been over-exposed to screen time, check in with them one-on-one to get a sense of their ideas and their overall wellbeing.

Ditching modern technology for a traditional call might help you build closer connections with your employees and give them the space to be more honest with their thoughts and suggestions.

7. Don’t go back-to-back

It might be tempting to roll meetings back-to-back, but this can be exhausting for everyone involved and detrimental to productivity.

Without calendar breaks of between five and 15 minutes, your staff will likely burn out and lose their focus much quicker. Most calendar apps allow you to add ‘buffer time’ between your meetings to give your employees time to get a glass of water, stretch their legs and clear their minds for the next meeting.

8. Cut down meeting times

Keeping meetings concise and to the point will cut down employee fatigue and allow everyone to spend more time on the wealth of other day-to-day tasks they are responsible for.

If you can reduce the time spent discussing ideas and issues, you’ll allow more time to actively address the areas in the workflow that need attention.

Keeping meetings to 30 minutes or less will help keep your staff engaged and stop them from zoning out halfway through.

9. Allocate topics

Giving employees a topic each to cover during the meeting will keep them interested and allow them to impart their wisdom and experience to colleagues. Knowing they have to present or take charge of a topic will give them ownership within the meeting and help keep their minds active.

Divide up topics before the meeting and keep the allocated discussion time for each topic short, so that the meeting moves along quickly and a variety of subjects are covered.

10. Trust your staff

Don’t use superfluous meetings as an excuse to ‘check in’ on your work-from-home workforce. It could be that hybrid working is here to stay, and it’s time that employers placed a little more trust in their remote workers.

If your employees think you are arranging meetings as an opportunity to spy on them, or to make them prove they are being productive, it may erode trust and create ill-feeling between you and your staff.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Top 10 ways to beat video meeting fatigue appeared first on Checklists.

Checklist has collaborated with Kristoffer Ahlerup of Enzymatica, the manufacturer’s of ColdZyme, to suggest some ways to help you manage symptoms.

1. Watch what you’re eating

Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, especially brighter coloured fruits for essential vitamins such as vitamin C and antioxidants. Not only are you giving your body the nutrients it needs, but you’re also providing important vitamins to your system.

2. Try some vitamins

Taking vitamin supplements like vitamin D and zinc will also help support the immune system.

Products like ColdZyme® can help protect against or can shorten the duration of a cold if used at an early stage, by acting on the virus itself. It works by forming a fast-acting protective barrier in the mouth and throat where colds and flu develop.

3. Drink plenty of water

Staying hydrated is important cold or no cold. Water helps with our functionality, which is what our bodies need to be able to fight off the common cold virus.

4. Resist your coffee and tea temptation

Avoid drinking excessive caffeine. Try to limit your intake as it can become diuretic, meaning you lose more fluid. This is very important as you’re likely losing a lot of liquids already. Any way of preventing fluid loss can only help.

5. Nap whenever you can

Getting a good amount of sleep is important to allow your body to fight infection as our bodies are working harder to remove the cold or flu. Nap as much as you can, and don’t overwork your body by forcing yourself to stay awake.

6. Rest sitting up

Try to sleep in an upright position, this will ensure your airways are not blocked or further congestion caused. Depending on the virus you have, it may also help release fluids from your nose as your body works to clear the virus.

7. Try a warm bath

A bath can be a nice way to not only relax but to soothe cold and flu symptoms. The steam can assist in the clearing of airways, and can make you feel less groggy.

8. Stay active

Keeping moving is important to help boost the energy levels needed to support your body in fighting against a virus. You’d be surprised how effective forcing yourself to get up and get moving can be to boost your mood.

9. Salty water is a good idea

Gargling salt water can help soothe and clear throat congestion and a tickly or scratchy cough. It may not taste particularly good but it’s great for clearing your airways and easing sore throats. Just remember not to swallow.

10. Keep your body temperature in check

As a flu symptom, you want to ensure you’re not too hot or too cold. This can worsen your body’s ability to fight the illness. Regulate your temperature by checking throughout the day, and adjust your clothing and blankets accordingly.

With some illnesses it’s easy to alternate between numbingly cold and sweating like you’re in a sauna, so regularly checking can help predict when a change is coming.

This article was produced in collaboration with Enzymatica, the manufacturers of Coldzyme, the cold and flu medicine.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Top 10 ways to help deal with cold and flu symptoms appeared first on Checklists.