5 things that drive you crazy about virtual meetings - and how to fix them

Virtual meetings are now commonplace in many different business environments, thanks to geographically scattered teams and growing technology. But there are common complaints about these types of meetings, ranging from connectivity issues to simple etiquette. These frustrations could lead teams to not want to participate at all - but there are solutions.

Here are some of the most common problems with virtual meetings, and what you can do about them.

1. Awkwardness of doing "virtual" presentations.

Some people just aren't cut out to be front and center in a virtual meeting. So figure out who the best presenters on your team are, and put them into a rotation for regular meetings. The more that other team members can see their peers presenting without any issues, the more likely they are to become comfortable with it in the future.

2. Audio or visual issues.

We've all been in the middle of a virtual meeting when someone's face freezes mid-sentence, or you can't hear what someone is saying clearly. If you've used the same system over and over again with the same issues, the solution is simple enough: Do your research and test out products until you find one that will work flawlessly every time. join.me is a simple and instant online meeting tool that eliminates the glitches that plague these types of meetings.

3. Background noise and distractions.

Whether it's a cell phone ringing or just team members talking while others are presenting, outside noises are distracting for anyone trying to present or pay attention during a virtual meeting. And these constant interruptions can affect productivity. The best way to address this is by educating all team members - especially new employees - about virtual meeting etiquette, and holding them accountable to those rules. You can make the rules as formal or informal as you'd like, but make sure to enforce them.

4. Fixed image boxes.

The purpose of a virtual meeting is to meet face to face without spending company money on travel expenses. The flexibility to move a screen around during a meeting so it's not fixed on one participant is extremely valuable, and not something that every product allows. With join.me, participants appear in unique meeting "bubbles" that can be moved around the screen. It allows you to work on other projects during the meeting, view documents, and see the faces of multiple meeting attendees at once.

5. Inconvenient meeting times.

Noon on Wednesday might work for the majority of your North American team, but that could mean asking your team in Asia to join a call at midnight. Make a note of everyone's location and find a time that is as convenient as possible for everyone involved. If a time is on the border of too late or too early, send a note to those colleagues affected to get their approval before sending the invite.

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