Improve Collaboration with Companion Mode in Google Meet
Google Meet does more than let you video chat with your coworkers; it also enables you to share your screen with them, send them files and participate in real-time meetings from anywhere. In Google Meet’s Companion Mode, team members can share their screens by simply clicking on their names in the chat window. This makes it easy to collaborate using documents or tools that both parties need access to at the same time. Here’s how you can use Companion Mode to improve collaboration with your teammates.
When is it helpful?
If you have ever joined a video meeting only to find that your microphone wasn’t working, or that your camera was pointing at the ceiling, you know how frustrating it can be. Companion mode can help to make sure that these types of problems don’t happen by giving you a preview of what your camera and microphone will look like to other participants before you join the meeting.
You’ll also see a countdown timer which indicates when you’ll enter the meeting. When the countdown timer reaches zero, click on Join and your audio/video will begin transmitting.
Enabling the feature
To enable the feature, open the Google Meet app and click on the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the drop-down menu. On the Settings page, scroll down to Advanced settings and toggle on the Companion mode setting. Once you’ve enabled companion mode, you’ll see a new companion icon next to the camera toggle in the bottom left corner of your screen.
What you can do with it
The new companion mode in Google Meet lets you add a virtual background, control your audio and video settings, and see meeting details all in one place. This makes it easier to stay focused and connected during long meetings. Here are a few tips on how to make the most of this new feature -Use the back button to return to your previous window
- Copy content from any app while you’re in a meeting by pressing Control+Command+C
- Find an agenda or discussion list by pressing Control+Command+A
- Close any tabs or windows that aren’t related to the meeting so you can focus on what’s happening in the current window
- Remember to mute yourself if there’s no mic or camera available
- If needed, chat privately with someone else in the meeting by right-clicking their name and selecting Chat
What else can be done within G Suite?
There are a few things you can do to improve collaboration when using the Companion mode within Google Meet. To start, be sure that everyone is on the same page by sharing your screen. You can also use the whiteboard feature to brainstorm ideas together.
If you need to take a break, there is also the option to leave a video message. Finally, be sure to wrap up by sending out meeting notes to all participants. They will be automatically saved as a new document in Drive, so it’s easy to share and discuss them later. With these simple tips, your team will have an easier time collaborating during meetings!
Where else can this be used outside of G Suite?
There are many applications for companion mode outside of G Suite. For example, you can use it to study for a test with a friend, work on a group project, or even just have a conversation. With companion mode, you can have up to four people in a video call and each person can see the other person’s screen.
This is incredibly useful for when you need to collaborate on something. Let’s say your group has a report due soon. You could set up companion mode so that everyone can view what everyone else is doing without having to tell them where they’re at in the report – instead they’ll be able to see everything in real time. One downside though: only one person can edit the document at a time (so if you’re using Word Online then this might not be an option).
