Non-verbal communication in virtual contexts

Reading Comprehension.

Non-verbal communication and its elements such as facial expression, gestures, posture, eye-contact, dressing code are most often attributed to in-person meetings. Unfortunately, since the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic forced the vast majority of the population to move their business activities online, including video conferencing, staff meetings and webinars, people soon noticed that meetings conducted so far in-person were easier if not more effective than the virtual ones. Out of the blue people needed to navigate in the virtual world driven mostly by intuition or lack of understanding, not to mention acknowledging the rules governing online communication. Soon it became obvious that non-verbal communication in the virtual world is as much important as the message conveyed during the meeting. It influences both perception and delivery, pushing a meeting to the high levels of professionalism and competence, helps keeping people more engaged and less distracted by the surrounding stumuli. The question is though which aspects of non-verbal communication should be prioritized during a virtual meeting. Take a look at the listing below to find the most useful tips for effective online meetings.