Don't make all the same Zoom meeting mistakes the UK government did
![adrian-kingsley-hughes](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/6f9ac99abaa541291e393a8b765bdffb2fa11559/2022/08/05/11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2/adrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&frame=1&height=192&width=192)
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we work and interact with others. One thing that's changed is meetings. No longer are we cramming around a table in a stuffy room. Thanks to tools like Zoom, we get to do meetings from the comfort of your own homes.
But an image of a Zoom meeting tweeted out by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of their first digital cabinet meeting highlighted a number of mistakes.
Here's the image:
Let's take a look at the mistakes, and learn from them, so our online meetings are better.
Note: While we're looking at a Zoom meeting here, many of these tips apply to other online meeting and collaboration services.
Must read: Coronavirus social distancing got you down? Tips and tricks to help you through it
1: Tweeting out your meeting ID is a dumb idea
Even if your meeting is password-protected -- and it should be -- doing this opens you out to phishing attacks.
2: Lift the camera to eye height
No one wants to spend a whole meeting looking up your nose!
3: Make sure your name is showing
Don't be this guy!
4: Pay attention to the background of your video
Sitting with your back to a window, or in a cluttered room, makes the image very busy and distracting.
5: Be wary of whiteout
If you're in front of or next to a bright window or another light source, you can end up looking like a ghost.
Don't be these guys!
6: Frame the shot
If you're bothering to have a video meeting, make sure you're in the meeting!
Don't be this guy!
7: Does everyone need to be on video?
Sometimes audio-only is better and less distracting. Also, for those on more limited connections, it means a smoother meeting.