Zoomed Out

That’s me. (And maybe also a little out of focus.) A recent study looked at the impact of being in so many Zoom meetings - the first of many studies I’m sure. Perhaps it IS messing with our psyches. All those eyes staring at us. Seeing ourselves in one tiny block of many. 

Is that what I really look like? Geez. Maybe I should get one of those ring lights, it will help get rid of the bags under my eyes. Who am I kidding - even that won’t help. The tiredness will still come through. I could change the background - but then risk losing part of myself if I move too quickly. (Although, people do seem to get a smile on their faces when they see the tropical background or the Minions popping up from a manhole in the corner.) 

Zooming is intense and it’s boring. In what used to be a “normal” meeting, face-to-face, we could see body language or visual alerts as to what’s going on behind those eyes. Perhaps we’d notice the picking up of a pen to make a note or glances across the table to a co-conspirator. We’d get up to stretch or just change position. Maybe even look out to the window to check the weather. 

Before, you just went to the designated conference room, found your place at the table, set down your coffee, opened a notebook, and clicked a pen. Easy. There’s a pecking order to who sits where, who speaks first, and next. And a table provides separation. Personal space is clearly defined. 

Not so much on Zoom. We’re all sitting eyeball-to-eyeball. Staring and blinking. Checking out what’s behind each other - on the wall or bookshelf. We’re watching as everyone’s eyes search the little boxes to determine who’s talking (unless you have it on Speaker view - but what is the fun in that?) Zoom is invasive. It’s tiring. 

Pre-Zoom, we used to complain about conference calls. People speaking on top of one another. People coming in late and announcing themselves. Attendees forgetting they are on mute. Or maybe using that mute button in order to get multiple things done while the call goes on, and on… (we also used mute to make sure no one could hear when we said what we really thought about the topic at hand.) In fact, it wasn’t considered rude to mute yourself, it was actually appreciated by others on the call. 

With Zoom, we use the chatbox to ask questions instead of interrupting the flow of a meeting. We are expected to mute ourselves until we have something to say - but we don’t have the conference call benefit of being able to do other things, or roll our eyes at dumb statements, or throw up our hands when the conversation goes on yet another tangent.  You see, you really shouldn’t turn off your video during a Zoom call. That’s rude. When you mute in a conference call no one really knows you’re doing it unless you’re called on and not paying attention. When you turn off your video on a Zoom - everyone knows since a block just shows your name. (Some folks have gone to the trouble of creating a staring head that shows up when they turn off their camera But that seems like a lot of work to me.)

During this past year or so, we’ve negotiated new norms of “meeting” online. Important questions such as: Are pets in the background okay? What about kids? Is it okay to go refill your coffee cup, or grab a bottle of water? Should you “raise your hand” to participate or just jump right in? What are the rules for recording a Zoom session? Who decides? Can I use a background during a meeting, and then change it? What about background music? Is it all right to Zoom from the bed, the couch, or the back porch? Should I use a laptop, tablet, or my phone? So many things to consider. No wonder we’re all getting Zoomed out. I know I am.

To be fair, there are some positives to Zoom. I love being able to do workout sessions with our trainer without having to leave the house - heck, as long as we have equipment available (some stretch bands and maybe a set of Val-slides), we can workout wherever we are and never miss a session! Being able to Zoom with family and friends is great! We can be near, even when we’re not. Be honest, did you Zoom with family during the holidays? Did you share some Quarantini’s with friends?  

Zoom is here to stay. For businesses and groups, Zoom (or Google Teams or whatever you’ve been using) cuts down on travel, keeps projects moving, and even when offices open up again, we’ll still be using it. So many have discovered the benefits of working remotely (whether it’s the dining room table or an island tiki bar.) Employees can avoid commuter traffic, have more time to spend with family, and still stay connected with coworkers. Companies can cut down on their office footprints - saving money and energy. 

Let’s face it - as long as there’s internet access - you’re good to go!

(Of course, the digital disparity is a discussion for another time.)