Image consultant and etiquette teacher Charmagne Garcia-Laconico lists her tips for proper behavior on social media and virtual meetings.
When doing video meetings:
Always prepare. Prepare materials or documents that you may need to share during the call. Make a list or a note with all your important talking points. Even if you have a premium (paid) account, it does not mean that you should stay on a Zoom call for a long time. Also, prepare your technical requirements: Make sure to have your earphones ready, or the camera if necessary, and ensure that your microphone is on mute to avoid distracting background noise.
If it is a video conference call, make an effort to fix up for your meeting. Wear presentable clothes and show up not looking like you just woke up. In the same way, do not overdo it! You do not need to show up in full glam makeup.
When on the conference call, try to stay on topic and avoid personal anecdotes. Be mindful to not take over the whole session. Stay focused and be present—do not multitask.
On social media:
While it is true that your social media platform is yours, Garcia-Laconico says, it is always wise to remember that whatever you put out there, stays there, and will reach far and wide. Your social media comments, rants and revelations will be a reflection of you. People do background checks on social media now, whether it is for a blind date or a job interview.
When on social media, remember:
Do respect others’ opinions, the same way you’d like others to respect yours.
Do connect and respond to messages as soon as you can. People use social media to reach out these days. It may seem unimportant to you, but it may be for the one reaching out.
Do stay away from negativity. Unfollow, block or unfriend those that cloud your space with negative posts or comments.
Do relax and try not to engage in unnecessary online banter and arguments. If you are in a forum, be a pleasant participant and share politely.
lDo have the courtesy to ask permission from people before posting something about them, or photos of them, on your social media account. And if you use a filter to edit a group photo, make sure that you are not the only one to come out looking good in the photo—edit the others, too. —Cheche V. Moral
