While remote work has become increasingly common in recent years, team members still need to stay connected. Virtual meetings are collaboration solutions that connect your employees no matter where they are in the world. Even though workers aren't in the same physical location for meetings, it doesn't mean that professional etiquette should fall by the wayside. Here are a few best practices for maintaining a professional environment in your virtual meetings.

Do:

Ensure attendees know how to use their equipment.

No one wants to be the person holding up a meeting any more than they want to wait for someone else who is holding it up. Fortunately, virtual meeting equipment is easy to use and simplifies the process of getting your team together. Be sure that every attendee knows the basics of how to use the equipment and how to test their video and audio before the meeting begins. This will help everyone stay on schedule and focus on the meeting's priorities.

Remember to mute.

When you're not talking, mute your microphone. This will eliminate background noise and create a more pleasant and professional meeting environment. When your mic is on, be mindful of shuffling papers, clicking pens, and other small movements that can produce ambient noise and be picked up by the microphone.

Don't:

Get distracted.

Many attendees will be logging on from their homes, where distractions can draw their attention away from the meeting and the collaboration solutions offered by this technology. For this reason, remind attendees to minimize distractions whenever possible. Keep children and pets occupied, silence cellphones and other devices, and don't try to multitask during the call.

Look at yourself instead of the camera.

When speaking, attendees should get in the habit of looking directly into the camera. It can be tempting to look at yourself to make sure you are presenting a professional demeanor, but to others, this can look like you're distracted and not making eye contact. Keep the camera at eye level and look into it when speaking; this will keep others engaged and maintain the flow of the meeting.

Simplify your meetings with web conferencing technology from Laser Line. Based in Jessup, they have been serving Maryland, D.C., and Northern Virginia since 1989. Their team offers a variety of collaboration solutions to make your virtual meetings smooth and stress-free. They also provide managed print services, repairs, and sales as an HP partner. Call (410) 636-1700 to request a quote, or visit them online to browse their services. You can also follow their Facebook for more tips.