Camera on or off?

Ghilaine chats with Ruth Sacks.

Are you ready for your next Zoom call? Checked the room, your working space that the camera picks up, your clothes and hair, checked for disturbances?
 
We’ve all been learning to use a range of communication products over the last few months both socially and for business purposes. We all now have insights into our colleagues’ homes, and the unplanned interruptions of pets, children, family members and the ranges of deliveries they receive.  And they have seen into your life too......
 
The reasons to see the person or people you are talking to in work focused meetings have all been highlighted including to create links, check understanding and maintain group cohesion. Yet camera off can and should be an acceptable option. Pre-‘lock-down’ you may have had many conversations that were phone only or indeed sound only.
Personally I have always disliked being permanently on camera, I didn’t like being filmed or watching myself speak to others.  I still don’t though now I accept it.
 
Being camera-off can open up discussions that may otherwise be difficult, it can provide an opportunity to raise challenging topics and let people focus on words rather than faces. Well managed meetings do not necessarily need faces to demonstrate engagement. Depending on the meeting you may want to focus on documents rather than the little green light on the screen.
 
We, Ghilaine and I, have been meeting regularly since March and our conversations have frequently returned to the topic of ‘Camera on or camera off’?
We thought we’d share our thoughts with you and look forward to hearing your views image free of course.
Thanks Ruth
How do you choose whether to have the camera off or on?

Ruth and I talk about the factors that are part of the decision about whether you have the camera on or off, for you and your team, especially for those difficult conversations. It is not always clear cut, but have the discussion.
Trust is at the heart of these choices.