Guide
Run virtual meetings people don't dread
Fix the specific things that make video calls exhausting and unproductive.
Send an agenda before the call, every time
Even three bullet points. A meeting with no agenda tends to wander, and wandering is what makes video calls feel twice as long as they need to be.
Ask if this actually needs to be a live call
If the goal is just sharing information with no discussion needed, a written update is faster for everyone and doesn't require six people to block 30 minutes simultaneously.
Keep cameras optional, not mandatory
Forcing cameras on adds pressure and fatigue for many people. Focus on whether the meeting is productive, not on how many faces are visible.
End 5 minutes before the hour
Gives people a real break before their next call instead of sprinting straight from one video call into another all day. Simple, and dramatically improves how people feel by 5pm.
That’s the whole thing.
Keep going
What to read next
- 01
Remote & Hybrid Teams
Set up async communication norms for a remote team
Reduce the constant pressure to reply instantly, without losing alignment.
- 02
Remote & Hybrid Teams
Choose the right tools for a hybrid team
Avoid the trap of picking tools built for either fully-remote or fully-in-office, when you're neither.
- 03
Remote & Hybrid Teams
Track output without micromanaging
Measure whether the work is getting done, not whether someone's green dot is active.