I was coaching an MIT student on a science presentation over Zoom and started with the basics. "Make sure you have a tidy background, I think I see your dirty clothes in a pile on your floor." He joked about his mother calling me to remind him to clean his room.
The next time we chatted his room was immaculate and he admitted, not only does it make him look more professional during presentations, but doing a quick clean is a nice centering ritual before he gets online. I do it myself, it's part of my "home to work" transition.
With the COVID-19 Delta variant making it's way across the country Online communication isn't going anywhere. Don't forget the basics. Basic doesn't mean elementary, it means essential!
