Send a private message

I need to send a short private message to Marcos during our 10am staff discussion about his agenda item. Confirm he’s online, tell him I’ll hand off his screen time, and ask if he wants his slides shown now or later. Keep it under three sentences so it reads in the chat preview.

Before I send Marcos a private note in the meeting, make it easy for him to act—put the next speaker slot time and slide number in the first line, mark any deadline (like ‘one-minute heads-up’), and flag any potential blockers such as ‘mic muted’ or ‘needs co-presenter’ so he can reply with one word.

We’re live and I sent Marcos a detailed private message asking if he’s ready to present; he hasn’t answered and the chair keeps asking for the next speaker. I don’t know if he’s away, muted, or ignoring me. What’s the most likely reason and the fastest, least awkward way to get a confirmation so the meeting flows?

Across several meetings I lose flow because people don’t read or respond to private chat quickly. Which habit should I change first—phrasing messages for one-word answers, calling out people verbally when I need a reply, or setting a visible presenter queue—and which tactic will most reliably keep the agenda on time?