How to Run a Zoom Meeting - Best Practices from the ADHD Community

Who knew, a year ago, that our primary group communication would be as little squares on a screen?

Has anyone received training on how to moderate a group on a virtual platform like Zoom?

From what I hear, the Zoom meeting is a technological marvel unleashed on businesses an organizations with no consideration to the human beings who will be using it. Here are some ideas for a more productive experience.

What Zoom is not: face to face

Group meetings always need a structure, preparation, and ground rules. In ADHD language, we’d call that using executive function. On a virtual platform, this is even more important!

Hilariously illustrated by the Tripp and Tyler video “A Conference Call in Real Life,” this point is that the less face-to-face the encounter, the more that “normal” behavior will be annoying and distracting.

Do your part to avoid hilarious or disastrous meetings by having best practices in place using preparation, structure, and being clear about the purpose and ground rules,

Have a leader

The leader sets out the purpose of the meeting. What is the objective?
Is it a “reporting” meeting, or a “working” meeting? The purpose will guide who needs to be there, and why.

Communicate clear expectations for each participant

Everyone should know why they are there, what will be expected of them, the purpose of the meeting, who else will be there and why.

Use the tools and actively moderate the discussion

The leader will moderate, which means monitoring the structure: who speaks, when, and for how long.
Using tools like the Mute feature, the leader can control for background noise and interruptions.
The Chat feature can be used for side comments.

Show your colleagues that you value their time and contributions by leading meetings with best practices.

ADHD Life Support is the blog of
Susan McGinnis, CALC of ADHD Impact Coaching LLC
Coaching adults with ADHD www.adhdimpactcoaching.com