15. Screen Share

Screen share is a great tool and offers a substantial advantage over phone meetings.  But a common mistake in many remote meetings is screen-sharing before it’s necessary.  I’ve often been in meetings where people say hello and immediately share their screen, but don’t talk about anything on the screen for another minute or more.  During that time, if they’d stayed with the webcam they could have been establishing relationship with the others at the meeting.

So even if your meeting is with people you know well, make sure you maximise the time you spend talking to each other you directly because it enhances your relationship and the feeling of personal connection.  Sharing your screen too early makes you like a presenter standing with your back to the audience staring at the slides and refusing to use your most powerful influencing tool: you.  (Even those who lack confidence, and don’t feel they are particularly persuasive, are generally much more influential if they face the audience)

For the same reasons, as soon as the screen share has finished its function, end it and go back to face to face communication.  Let people see you.