May 28, 2025 | Project, Program, Portfolio Management
This summer, our youngest son is hanging up his golf towel and putting away the rangefinder. For the first time, he’s trading early mornings on the course for early mornings in an office—where the hazards aren’t sand traps but virtual meeting fatigue, poorly timed unmuting, and someone saying “let’s circle back” without a trace of irony.
As someone who’s spent more than a few rounds in corporate meetings, I gave him a crash course on how to avoid bogeys in the virtual workplace. Specifically, how to master Microsoft Teams—a.k.a., the digital conference room where first impressions are made and sometimes careers quietly implode.
⛳ Level I: The Tee Box – Show Up Ready to Play
Let’s face it—you wouldn’t show up to the course in flip-flops and last night’s hoodie. The same rules apply to the virtual office.
- Turn on your camera.
Even if you’re the only one. Being visible in a virtual meeting is the equivalent of making eye contact during a handshake. It shows you’re alert, engaged, and not dialing in from your pillow. - Choose a professional background.
Your bedroom may have been fine for Zoom trivia night, but in the working world, it’s more double bogey than boardroom. Use a blurred background or a clean virtual office. - Dress like you’re at the office.
You wouldn’t wear a polo on top and pajama pants on the bottom at Augusta. Eventually, you’ll stand up on camera. And when you do, may your fashion choices not become the punchline in HR’s “Do’s and Don’ts” slideshow.
🟡 Level II: The Fairway – Play Smart and Stay in Position
Now that you’re presentable, it’s time to actually play the round. That means managing the mute button like a pro and watching for your turn like you’re reading a tricky green.
- Master the mute.
Mute when you should. Unmute when it’s time. And for the love of Tiger, know which state you’re in at all times. Nothing says “rookie” like talking while muted—or worse, streaming your family’s lunch conversation to the whole department. - Open the participant view.
This is your leaderboard. Know who’s in the meeting. Notice when someone un-mutes—that’s the equivalent of someone lining up a putt. Don’t talk over them like you’re yelling “FORE!” across the fairway. - Use the “raise hand” feature.
It’s underused and underrated—like a good hybrid. When used properly, it helps you make your point without interrupting someone mid-swing. Use it, and you’ll look polished, respectful, and tech-savvy.
🔴 Level III: The Clubhouse – Play Like a Pro
Now you’re playing with confidence. Time to start using the real tools of the trade.
- Turn on Speaker Coach.
Think of this as your personal swing coach—but for meetings. It tracks your pace, your filler words, and whether you’re stepping on someone else’s line. It’s discreet, helpful, and it won’t cost you $150 an hour like your golf coach did last summer. - Turn on closed captioning.
Between choppy Wi-Fi, fast talkers, and jargon slingers, it helps to have the subtitles running. It’s especially useful when you’re new and everyone seems to be speaking in acronyms no one defined. (Yes, you can Google “QBR” mid-meeting.) - Be a screen-sharing ace.
Nothing derails a meeting faster than someone fumbling to find the right tab while accidentally sharing their fantasy golf league stats. Practice ahead of time. Close what shouldn’t be seen. And for bonus points—know how to share just one window, not your whole desktop.
🏁 Final Thoughts: Keep Your Head Down and Swing with Confidence
Swapping golf cleats for business casual shoes is a big change. But the principles of success aren’t so different:
- Show up prepared.
- Watch the tempo.
- Don’t talk in someone’s backswing.
- And if you mess up? Shake it off and get ready for the next shot.
So to all the interns out there—especially the ones trading tee times for Teams calls—remember: your virtual presence matters. Learn the tools. Use them well. And always finish strong.
Because whether you’re on the course or in a conference call, no one forgets the person who shows up ready to play.
