i). Zoom w/ headphones on
Even if there’s nobody around your physical location to bother, you might be causing your colleagues or customers some discomfort. Hearing echoes, poor microphone quality, and extra background noise are all things that can be distracting.
Invest in a Headset or Headphones + Microphone:
An inexpensive headset combo is a Sennheiser USB Mono Headset , or for one with a few more features the Jabra PRO 9460 Mono is a great option. This wireless headset can connect to your PC and your desk phone.
If you really want to upgrade your remote meetings, then invest in a dedicated microphone and separate headphones. Your Zoom attendees will notice a big upgrade in quality. This USB mic Audio-Technica AT2005USB is a good entry into the content creation type gear, and then I recommend a separate headset. I like “open back” headphones so you can still hear the world (and you’re own voice). The Sennheiser HD 599 Open Back or Philips Fidelio are tremendous options, and they are great for listening to music as well. If you want the tune the background out kinda option then a “closed back” headphone like the Sennheiser HD 569 is a great option.
If you went with #2 then make sure to snag this NEEWER boom arm or even better this InnoGear boom arm to get the mic ideally placed 6-12” from your mouth.
ii). Commute to and from…your desk
Pretend you’re hopping on the freeway for your 30 second commute to your kitchen table. Go through your routine just like you would if you had to see someone other than your family (ie no pajamas allowed), and set a hard stop every day for work to be done.
Lots of people think working from home leads to less hours worked and less productivity. I’ve been working from home for more than 20 years, and I find the opposite to be true. If you’re not careful to set boundaries for when you work, you’ll end up burned out.
iii). Share That Webcam
It’s easy to give in to the impulse to leave it off when you join that Zoom, but having it on after your long pajamaless commute will lead to more effective meetings. Even this introvert needs human interaction, and being able to read body language is very important for effective communication.
I know webcams have been hard to come by, but when they are in stock the trusty Logitech c920 is a great choice for price and quality. Make sure you get some privacy lens covers. For a bit of an upgrade in video quality the AVerMedia Live Streamer is another good option.
iv). Productivity & Collaboration Tools
A big key to productive ‘work from home’ culture is adoption of collaboration tools. Just like being on conference calls all day isn’t effective neither is being on a Zoom call 8 hours a day. Implementing tools that keep employees connected and communicating outside of Zoom is crucial.
Microsoft Teams / Slack / Google Workspace Chat - Have one of these setup so that your employees can have ad-hoc text or video conversations. Create pertinent channels so that team members can not only communicate but be organized in case you need to reference something in the future. There are tons of integrations with other tools as well. For instance some organizations create new threads automatically when they get an email from a customer, so that employees can jump on important issues and work together to resolution.
Microsoft Planner / Asana - These tools are great for organizing and communicating tasks. Having giant project plans is a thing of the past, but I always recommend having some level of project management methodology in place. I find it easier on both employees and management when there’s a central place to track what’s happening. Pulling up a Kanban Board during your daily Zoom call is a great way to get on the same page.
Cloud file storage - This one is a no-brainer these days. It’s important to have discussions around who needs to access what and have a plan for organizing your data. Microsoft Teams-Sharepoint-Onedrive, Google Workspace, Dropbox, etc are easy to install, but without those initial discussions files can get un-wieldy quickly.
Backup your cloud file storage - This one is often overlooked, but you’ll be glad you thought of it.
Technology Porter, LLC is an Everett, WA based IT Support and Consulting Provider. For help implementing any of these products or services see our Services page or Contact-Us directly for more information.
Technology Porter, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.