In a Post-Covid world, meetings are often held virtually as we all work from different spaces. Learn how to run a virtual meeting, which is now not just a 21st-century option but a necessity.
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How often do you have online meetings?
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What platforms do you use? (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet?)
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What challenges do you face when speaking online?
Decide whether the following phrases are professional or unprofessional. If you decide they are unprofessional, what can you say?
- Can you hear me clearly?
- You're on mute!
- Sorry, I was having connection issues.
- Ugh, the internet sucks today.
- Let's give them a moment to reconnect.
- Hello? Anyone there?
Look at the following table with your teacher. Can you come up with other phrases for each function?
| Function | Phrase | Structure Note |
|---|---|---|
| Starting the Meeting | “Let’s get started—thanks for joining.” | Imperative with “let’s” + greeting |
| “Can everyone hear and see me clearly?” | Yes/no question with modal “can” | |
| Tech Issues | “You’re muted—I think we can’t hear you.” | Present continuous + soft observation |
| “Let me share my screen… let me know when you see it.” | Polite imperative with “let me” + time clause | |
| Flow & Turn-Taking | “Let’s hear from [Name] first.” | Imperative with “let’s” + turn indicator |
| “Feel free to jump in if you have a comment.” | Polite imperative + conditional | |
| Disruptions | “It looks like we lost [Name].” | “It looks like” for softening unexpected events |
| “Sorry, I didn’t catch that—could you repeat it?” | Past simple + modal “could” for polite request | |
| Wrapping Up | “Let’s quickly review action items.” | Imperative with “let’s” + summary task |
| “Thanks, everyone—great discussion today.” | Friendly closing + positive feedback |
1. Fix the following phrases.
- Hey, I think you're frozen!
- You keep cutting out today. What's up with your Wi-Fi?
- Guys, can we just focus for once, please?
2. What would you say in the following scenario?
You are in an online meeting with the client, the Dairy Farmers of Canada. One person is talking but you can't hear them, and another person has just dropped off the call. You need to move the conversation along. Give four options of phrases to say.
Think about what aspects make a great in-person meeting. And how can you preserve and protect these qualities when shifting online?
Also, think about some of the new technological advantages of online and virtual meetings. What enhances them and makes them more efficient?