How to Keep Kids, Pets, and Others From Being Distracted From Your Skype Meetings
This poor guy made headlines on Friday when his kids interrupted a BBC video interview. Remote workers, you probably understand. Whether it’s curious kids, noisy pets, or just street noise, it’s hard to stay professional when distractions get in the way of your meeting.
Set some boundaries
The easiest way to get rid of distractions is to avoid them altogether. Set some boundaries with your family and let them know when you need a “no clutter” zone.
I also used to put a sign “Meeting Progress” on the front door. I had a neighbor who liked to knock and say hello during the day. I liked her company, but when I had meetings, it was distracting, so I let her know that I would sign up if I was not bothered. This also works well for FedEx and UPS.
It also helps you plan your appointments strategically. Okay, if you have a BBC interview, time probably won’t slip away. However, clients, colleagues, and employers are likely to be more flexible. If possible, schedule appointments with all possible distractions in mind: delivering parcels, returning children from school, etc.
Consider a coworking space
Judging by the distraught woman who came to slay the children at the end of the video, the professor was probably trying to establish clear boundaries, but children have an annoying habit of not always listening. Even when you set boundaries, sometimes things just happen. Maybe your neighbor starts to bellow Metallica, or your dog sees a squirrel on the street and wants to give his opinion.
If you have a very important meeting and really want to avoid distraction, consider moving your video or phone meeting elsewhere. Many coworking spaces allow you to rent out their rooms just for meetings, even if you don’t have a contract with them. Likewise, some libraries have private study rooms and you can request them in advance.
Reduce background noise
If you’re going to have a phone or video meeting, keep a decent headset close at hand and make sure a microphone is connected to it. This helps to drown out any background noise and feedback during the hangout. ( Here are some of your favorite typefaces.)
In addition, you can reduce background noise coming from your computer. Go into your computer’s sound settings, and under the input or microphone, you should see an option to reduce background noise or ambient noise.
Talk to your landlord
A year later, my apartment manager decided to renovate the apartments on both sides of my apartment. For a whole year, I struggled with cracking, drilling and screaming, which made it difficult for me to schedule meetings with clients. I emailed my landlord, told her about the situation, and we worked out a schedule so that I could meet without worrying about ongoing construction.
Your landlord may not be as receptive. Mine was not like that at first, then I noticed that this is how I made my living to pay the rent, and she seemed a little more responsive. In fact, if you work from home, it is probably a good idea to inform the landlord about your remote situation anyway. That way, they’ll be more attentive to your schedule when it comes time for checks and other visits.
Admit it and move on
One day my cat jumped up in front of my computer camera while meeting with a new client. It was pretty sweet, but it also scared the person interviewing me, so I felt awkward as hell. I apologized for the distraction, joked about the “benefits of working from home,” then we laughed and continued the meeting.
If you find yourself in the same situation, you are probably better off admitting a ruin. Otherwise, it will only make the situation more awkward and distracting. Here are three steps our very own Patrick Allan suggests when you embarrass yourself:
1. Take responsibility for what happened. Don’t pass it on to other people. Explain as gracefully as possible why this happened. People find comfort in the “why” of things. Don’t do it anymore than it really is. Your reaction may make him even more unpleasant than it is right now.
Another tip: Instead of constantly apologizing, which can be just as distracting, thank the other person and move on. It might look something like this: “I’m not used to working from home. Thank you for your patience “.
Don’t be too hard on yourself – mistakes do happen. If they didn’t, we wouldn’t have this great video. However, with a little preparation, you can make your remote meetings as professional as possible without distracting them.