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In case you have been living under a rock Zoom Video Communications (ZM) is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite security concerns and reports of links to China, Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing options available. As Statista documents Zoom’s Q3 total revenue was up 367 percent from the same period of last year. The company expects to end the year with $2.58 billion of revenue.

A growing number of project managers are using collaboration software like Zoom while working from home until at least the summer of 2021 – to get updates from team members. Here are 9 tips and tricks to master Zoom in 2021.

Use keyboard shortcuts 

It is estimated that you are spending up to 64 hours every year on unnecessary keyboard-to-mouse coordination in Zoom and other GUI’s. To save time, use these keyboard shortcuts to be a more efficient project manager during a Zoom video call.

A is for audio – Press Alt + A to mute or unmute audio (macOS Command + Shift + A).

I is for invite – Press Alt + I to jump to the Invite window, where you can get the link to the meeting for others users (macOS Command + I).

M is for mute – Press Alt + M to mute everyone else on the call when you are the meeting host (macOS Command + CTRL + M).

S is for share – Press Alt + Shift + S to share your screen (macOS Command +Shift + S) and press Alt + T (macOS Command +Shift + T) to pause or resume screen sharing.

V is for video – Press Alt + V to Start or stop video (macOS Command +Shift + V).

Y is for Yo – Press Alt + Y to Raise or lower hand (macOS Option+ Y).

For the full list of Zoom keyboard shortcuts click here. 

Use Annotation Tools – Zoom’s annotation tools let all the meeting participants collaborate by drawing and highlighting on the screen shared by the host. This type of collaboration can be very helpful for project managers when brainstorming, collecting requirements, or developing a work breakdown structure (WBS). To annotate a Zoom while viewing someone else’s shared screen.

1. Select View Option from the top of the Zoom window.
2. Choose Annotate.
3. A toolbar appears with all your options for annotating, including;
• text,
• draw,
• arrow, etc..

The presenter can use the save button on the toolbar to capture the image with annotations as a screenshot to be used in the project meeting minutes. 

Look better on Zoom

Zoom has a feature called Touch Up My Appearance. It can soften the focus on your camera. The feature will smooth fine lines and bags under your eye bags –  theoretically minimizing issues with your skin. It can make even the weariest PM look like you got a great night of sleep. To use Zoom’s Touch Up My Appearance:

1. Select Zoom’s Settings menu.
2. Click on the Video option in the left panel.
3. Under My Video, select the option for Touch Up My Appearance.
4. A slider bar will appear next to this option, and you can further customize the feature by sliding the bar left or right to increase or decrease its use in your video.

Bonus tip – If you have the internet bandwidth – Select the HD option in the Camera section of the Video settings page. So you can be seen in high definition glory.

Be Quite – You do mute your microphone when you are not speaking during a Zoom call right? Nobody wants to hear you munching Doritos in the background. When you are called on to speak – you can just press and hold the spacebar to quickly unmute and mute rather than scrambling to click the microphone button with your mouse. 

Use an Emoji

Even if you are muted in a Zoom meeting, you can still participate. Use emoji reactions to let the hosts know your thoughts. You can send a thumbs up or a clapping emoji to communicate without interrupting the meeting. To react with an emoji during a project meeting:

1. Click the Reactions tab at the bottom of the meeting screen and choose the one you want.
2. The emoji will disappear after 5 seconds.

By default, emoji reactions have a yellow skin tone, but you can customize that to match your identity. Desktop users can:

1. Select their profile picture,
2. Click on Settings, and then under the General tab,
3. select a skin tone from the six options available.

Pro Tip #1 – If you’d prefer not to be seen at all (and you’re not planning to speak) in the meeting you can use a screenshot of yourself in a Zoom meeting as your profile picture. That way, you’ll always look sharp and that you are paying attention.

Pro Tip #2 – Zoom offers an “attendee attention tracking” feature. This feature lets the employers check to make sure you are paying attention. So if you’re tweeting away during a meeting, or answering a personal e-mail, Zoom is going to tell your boss.

Stay Up to Date – Keep your Zoom application up to date. Updating Zoom will get you the latest bells and whistles and it will keep you more secure. To update your Zoom client

1. Sign in to your account.
2. Click on your profile picture, and select Check For Updates.
3. If there are new updates, you’ll be able to download and install them right away via the updates screen.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts.

You can also download updates from the Zoom update website.

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Hopefully, these 9 tips and tricks will help you master Zoom and be a better project manager in 2021. 

Stay safe out there!

Related article

• Zoom’s Eric Yuan became one of the world’s richest people in 2020 as Covid sent people rushing to meet on video (CNBC)

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.