This document provides humorous and exaggerated tips for effectively conducting a 'bad virtual meeting' with remote employees. It emphasizes aspects like audio setup, punctuality, and the illusion of preparedness while multitasking and managing unexpected questions. The author encourages the reader to embrace a relaxed, informal approach to virtual meetings to maintain engagement.

1. How to Run
a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
Steven Pritchard
TMA World │ Head of Corporate Relations & Research

2. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
Running meetings with
remote employees in
virtual teams can be
a real nuisance
because they disrupt the
smooth flow of more
important
work (and fun),
taking place face to face
in the office.

3. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
Here are my top tips and hints to help you run
really bad virtual meetings:
Audio Punctuality Agenda Multi- Surprise Screenshare Feedback
tasking Questions

4. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
 X X X X X X
Audio
Always use the speaker phone, particularly in a noisy office so that
attendees will sense that you are important, as they hear you
working in a busy and vibrant environment.

5. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X  X X X X X
Punctuality
Turn up absolutely on time. Not a minute before or after.
Although you might need to load slides into your virtual meeting
room for a couple of minutes whilst everyone waits around, it helps
people relax.

6. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X  X X X X X
Punctuality
Relationships are important so you can use this time bond with your
colleagues by talking about last night’s football score.
Around the world everyone loves football!

7. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X X  X X X X
Agenda
The great thing about virtual meetings is that participants can’t
actually see how unprepared you are.

8. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X X  X X X X
Agenda
The main thing is to sound confident, as you remember the three
most important things you think people should be discussing.
If you do this, they’ll think you really do have an agenda!

9. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X X X  X X X
Multi-tasking
Generally people find listening to other people’s opinions for long
periods of time a little tedious, particularly when you can’t even
see them!

10. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X X X  X X X
Multi-tasking
Multi-tasking is a new generation leadership skill so practice it
(social learning on the job is the new big thing!) by updating your
Facebook page as soon as you sense what someone is saying.

11. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X X X  X X X
Multi-tasking
When they finish, just say ‘that’s a really good point you’ve made’
and they’ll feel acknowledged.

12. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X X X X  X X
Surprise Questions
If you are ever caught by a surprise question that you either don’t
know the answer to, or you did not realize was actually addressed to
YOU, (because you were on FB) just say that you ‘agree with what
the last person said’.

13. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X X X X  X X
Surprise Questions
Even if you disagree later, you can blame it on a lack of context.
Alternatively just make a noise like ’’*£s &*$£s! and say ‘Sorry we’ve
got a really bad line here’, hang up, Google the answer and dial back
in. That demonstrates commitment.

14. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X X X X X  X
Screenshare
I generally recommend you avoid using screen share. It’s
complicated.

15. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X X X X X  X
Screenshare
No one else knows how to use it either and you don’t want people
peeking at unplanned private chat messages about the boss.
Screenshares really disrupt the flow of a meeting.

16. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X X X X X X 
Feedback
Remember that when everyone remains quiet as you make your
final resonant concluding statements, silence is normally a sign of
approval, respect and agreement for what you have said, so you
don’t need to waste the peoples time by asking for feedback.

17. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
X X X X X X 
Feedback
Apparently people from some cultures are always silent and won’t
say anything anyway, I’ve never had any complaints from them.

18. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
I hope this helps you and remember that great mantra:
“ think global ... but act local!
”
If you have any other bad advice or habits please email me at
spritchard@tmaworld.com
and we’ll set up a “REAL” virtual meeting :)

19. How to Run a Great
‘Bad Virtual Meeting’
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please contact us at
enquiries@tmaworld.com
or visit
http://www.tmaworld.com/training-solutions/