Working from home and video meetings have become the new norm since the pandemic occurred in the year 2020. As many of us continue to work remotely while connecting with one another online, taking small steps to make sure that we are present during online discussions can make a world of difference. Research has found that a lot of people are having trouble staying focused during an online meeting whilst working from home. Since staying focused and engaged are crucial to improving our performance and productivity at work, we are going to share some tips on how one can do so.
1. Prepare your workstation
Set up your computer in a quiet room and turn on your camera while going full screen on the meeting itself. Keep your phone in a silent mode in order to avoid yourself from checking out for the notifications. Make sure that you have a neat and tidy workspace by decluttering all your stationeries, or else, it will be harder for you to focus as your eyes keep on looking at the mess.
2. Eliminate potential distractions
Prevent yourself from checking your emails or looking at other things on your screen. Make sure to close any unnecessary tabs on your browser before the meeting starts. Avoid multitasking as it will only create added stress during your Zoom meetings. Besides, studies have shown that multitasking can actually reduce your productivity by up to 40%. This explains why it is better for you to concentrate on one task at a time.
3. Refocus your attention
It is natural for your mind to wander during the meeting, despite how hard you have been putting efforts to listen to everything. Having a pen and a piece of paper next to you can be helpful as you get to jot down any important points during the meeting while staying focused on what is being discussed. You can also write down any distracting thoughts before the meeting starts and only get back to them after everything has ended to help you to be more present and ready to listen.
4. Ask questions for clarification
When you get distracted for a moment, and you are lost as the conversation has moved in a new direction, don’t be afraid to voice out and ask questions. Besides, you get to help others to get back right on track, since it is most likely that you are not the only one who is confused. You can use your body language to show that you have a question or wait until they ask if anyone needs clarification if you don’t want to interrupt while someone is talking in the meeting.
While no one looks forward to attending lengthy virtual meetings, it is something that we should start to get used to. With these listed tactics, paying attention and coming out of the meeting feeling like it was worthwhile becomes a little easier. Make sure to keep these tips in mind the next time you’re getting ready to log on to a video meeting and want to keep your attention span in check.
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