Zoom like you are in-person

Zoom has taken the business world by storm. Feels like just about all communications are now through Zoom.

How’s it working for you? I notice it’s not the same for everybody. Some participants lean in and engage, others lean back. Some look others in the eye, some are looking at themselves or not focusing on anything. Some are talking over people, others can’t get a word in.

I always wonder why people mute, or shut off their camera, or put up a picture of themselves instead. If it were a live meeting would this be the same as somebody going to get a cup of coffee, taking another phone call, using the bathroom?  We’ll never know.

One thing we do know is we can adjust our zoom behavior to make it better for ourselves and others as well.

First thing to do is to reflect on what meeting behaviors were like prior to the Zoom era.  What was effective? To us there are 3 things that stand out:

• ENGAGE – Look people in the eye when speaking to them
• INCLUDE – Get everybody involved
• SEEK TO UNDERSTAND – Notice what people are doing and how they are responding. It’s harder today. They could be dealing with a newborn or feeling pent up in a one-room apartment with others. Pre-zoom, there was more banter to understand how people were doing and we’d respond accordingly. Lifting up those who need it, allowing others to share their exuberance and giving space to those who need it, should be considered like they used to be.

We all know that Zoom technology has been a game changer in a COVID world. It has allowed us to communicate dynamically in a time when we need to communicate more than ever before.

Are you zooming in or zooming out?  We recommend the former.