9 tips for mastering virtual public meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic

To be successful in this newly virtual world and ultimately gain community buy-in and obtain regulatory approvals, building industry professionals will need to adapt their approach and learn how to master the virtual public meeting. With the next round of community workshops already in the calendar, and everyone committed to continuing the collaboration, our team turned Zoom into a virtual community meeting hall and met with over 500 people over the course of two weeks. Testing every presenter's mics, video, and lighting before the workshops or sessions is also crucial for a successful live event, and will also put your team at ease. In one recent virtual meeting, after we complimented the audience on the value of their comments and questions, one participant (who clearly had no idea we were still on camera) made a rather embarrassing gesture.