Does anyone feel like a caged animal right now, or maybe like you’re living in a fishbowl? Quarantining is hard, but our world seems to be adapting pretty well thanks to the amount of technology there is around us. Take a second to reflect on being a kid and how it seemed so far in the future to have a video call!

But now, it’s common place. Dozens, if not close to a hundred people, can be on a video conference call all at once. Even my 7-year-old niece who was staying with us figured out how to mute video calls and would walk away to play with out cats!

I’ve searched around and found some basic start-up guides to video conferencing, some of which you may have seen or tinkered with along your virtual journey. We’ve also sought some lists of some of the funniest things to happen in virtual meetings around the globe. What’s the most absurd or funniest thing you’ve seen or been a part of on a virtual call?

The Good

CNET put together a great article of things to try out to be fairly professional in a virtual meeting, and to also get the most out of the call. My favorite is a combination that I try to share with everyone- default each meeting to start with your microphone muted and your camera off. Once you’re in the meeting, keep yourself muted and use the spacebar like a walkie talkie! You can hold the spacebar button down to talk (as long as you are still in the program and not scrolling social media), and go back on mute when released. I’ve found this is very helpful with kids and pets around! This article also provides other resources and shortcuts when using Zoom for virtual meetings.

The Bad

There are plenty of stories with funny things that have happened on virtual calls. And thankfully for us, people are taking advantage of the record feature and sharing their stories with the world. If you want a laugh today, Boredpanda(demic) has a long list of stories that to scroll through and remind you that “it could be worse…”

The Ugly

I have a passion for inclusion in the world and the workplace. I can have a pretty assertive personality, but I try my hardest to give space to others to grow and participate. By no means am I perfect! My company pointed out that it’s even easier to be excluded when we don’t regularly interact or see each other. If you have the opportunity to lead, check out these tips from Northwestern Mutual on “How to Communicate Effectively While Working From Home.”

Share your work from home stories! Send your best and worst teleworking experiences to marketing@ypknox.com

About the Author

Scott Beasley is a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual where he guides individuals and families on the journey to their hopes and dreams. A graduate of the University of Tennessee and Carnegie Mellon University, Scott has been in Knoxville since 2011 and finally started calling it home in 2019. Being a founding member of the Knoxville Community Rotaract, he has a passion for volunteer work and growing the community. After joining YPK in the fall of 2019, he decided to dive in by joining on the Marketing Committee. His spare time is often spent at home with his wife Shannon, daughter Camryn, and their five animals.