If you’ve chosen to read this, you probably use Zoom (or another video format meeting) for work. Do you love it? Hate it? Tolerate it? Have you thought carefully about how you are using the service? And what it says about you? Read on to understand the biggest mistake to avoid in your next Zoom call. And read to the end for a CAN’T LOSE FREE OFFER.
As an executive coach, I’ve always had a strong preference for meeting clients in person. Even when most coaches I knew only did phone sessions, I stubbornly held on to in-person meetings. The feedback I receive from seeing my clients face-to-face provides a powerful context to the words they say. If I can’t see their non-verbals, I’m not getting the whole story of how they present themselves. After all, elevating my clients’ personal and executive “presence” is a key part of my coaching practice.
Since COVID, Zoom has been an imperfect, but acceptable, substitute for in-person meetings. The convenience is a huge bonus with no lost travel time. And I can still see my clients. I can read most of their body language. And in some cases, the up-close facial view gives me even more nuanced information about their mental state. Emotions show up magnified on Zoom. Agreement or disagreement is discernible without words. It’s far better than just a phone call AS LONG AS THEIR CAMERA IS ON!
For the last year I’ve also heard a steady stream of comments from my clients about their Zoom meetings. The number one complaint is PEOPLE WHO DON’T TURN ON THEIR CAMERA. If you are one of those folks who believe it’s OK to not be visible in Zoom meetings, here’s what people are thinking about you:
- We assume you aren’t really engaging. If we can’t see you to verify that you are paying attention, we assume the worst. Like you are watching Netflix on another device. Or shopping online. It’s irritating to consider that you might be doing these things – especially if we are presenting something that needs your full understanding and input.
- We assume you aren’t important. If your teams don’t have a policy for “cameras on” in meetings, it’s up to individuals to decide whether or not to be visible. Many times in large meetings it’s common for the main participants to have on cameras while peripheral participants don’t. You might have fallen into a practice around this where you think it’s always fine to keep out of sight. But I urge you to reconsider. I’ve heard many high-level professionals complain about team members who don’t participate visually or verbally and they assume these invisible people have nothing to add and are simply not that important to the business.
- We see it as a lack of respect, a lack of courtesy or a lack of professionalism. Consider a situation where a more senior person doesn’t turn on the camera for a meeting with a junior person. The junior person feels a lack of respect and that they are not worthy of the full attention of the senior person. Now flip the situation, where the junior person is not visible but the senior person is. In this case, the senior person will also feel disrespected and will likely consider the junior person to be lacking in professionalism or confidence.
- We will not connect with you as deeply as with people we can see. For many individuals who joined teams during COVID, their only interaction has been virtual. To only experience someone as a disembodied voice means it’s harder to form a connection to that person. We engage best with, and feel closer to, the individuals whose names and faces and voices and mannerisms we are familiar with. It’s fundamental to team building and cohesion and trust. Seeing team members in their at-home settings also has the effect to humanize everyone and keep us grounded. The president of one of my client’s companies is known to have his dogs jump into his lap on occasion. It’s a mood-lightening and relatable moment for everyone on the call, and people love it.
- We might not understand you. I work with many people for whom English is not their first language. If their accents are heavy, I often rely on listening AND watching their faces to get the full meaning of their messages. Without the camera on, I may lose part of the understanding.
- We suspect you might be lazy. I’ve had people apologize for not turning on the camera because “they didn’t have time to get ready.” Really? We can all agree that these have been hard times. Many people are burdened by their at-home situations, sharing a workspace, kids running around, or setups that feel inadequate. But these are too often used as excuses. You can always throw up a Zoom background if your space is a mess, and it is perfectly fine to turn off the camera for a short while to deal with a distraction. The point is that showing up visually reminds people that you are present, ready to listen and add your voice and energy to the meeting.
- If you are a leader, we want you to set an etiquette example for video calls. Make it clear to your teams that you value seeing everyone. Always turn on your camera and set the same expectation for others. Explain the many reasons why seeing people builds understanding, connection and trust. And also remember that Zoom fatigue, like meeting fatigue, is real. And your ability to manage meetings in general – well that’s another topic altogether!
If this has convinced you to turn on your camera but you still have concerns, let me assist! I am happy to offer a FREE 10 minute consult with personalized tips for improving your Zoom presence with your camera on! Reach out and let’s schedule a quick session to maximize your impact in video meetings! We’ll talk about crucial lighting, backgrounds, filters, camera angles and even clothing choice. Take me up on this! OWN the Zoom meeting! (You still don’t have to wear pants.)