DURING the early months of pandemic, we were all initially excited about Zoom meetings. Working from home, these connected us to the office, to business partners, to friends and colleagues during the lockdown.
But as quarantine stretched on, Sophie Maerowitz notes in a prnewsonline.com article that “Zoom fatigue [or Zoomed out] entered the workplace lexicon.” Employees and execs are increasingly tuning out during video meetings, and people seem “less and less enchanted by virtual happy hours and video call dinners with family and friends.”
There is, Maerowitz says in How Internal Communicators are Fighting Employee Burnout and Zoom Fatigue, “little question as to what is warranted: a novel approach to pulling remote workers out of the digital communications doldrums.”
Lindsay Blakely agrees in an article in Inc.com. Nearly a year into the world’s embrace of remote work,—“more than 40 percent of Americans are working from home—and oh, how times have changed.” And “you’re not alone if you feel like you’ve been living through something like the five stages of zoom grief.”
Indeed, how many times have we sighed, “not another Zoom meeting, not another webinar!”
To those with a love-hate relationship with Zoom, Blakely rounds up some of the best advice she’s learned about making Zoom calls “less stressful, more effective, and—crucially—a little less omnipresent in remote work” in Zoom Burnout is Real. Here are 4 Practical Ways to Cope.
1. Less is more
“The exhaustion you feel after a day of video calls is not just about you,” says Blakely. Zoom calls demand more energy “as you strain to parse the information you’re hearing along with the few visual cues you can glean from staring at your colleagues in tiny boxes. At the same time, you might be managing children, pets, or other distractions in the background.”
She adds that it’s a mistake to assume that frequent video check-ins are what’s needed to make people feel connected and productive. Those calls, in fact, require much more planning and stress on the attendees’ side than you realize as they juggle what’s necessary for some relative peace and quiet. Take a look at how frequently you’re asking your employees and colleagues to be on-camera and consider whether it’s the best way to communicate.
Blakely quotes Jason Fried, founder of Chicago-based software company Basecamp and remote work champion who believes that, “if you have more time for yourself, you’re going to be more productive.”
Pro tip: “Consider the humble telephone or thoughtful memo that requests responses,” says Blakely, “they may be more effective and less draining for everyone. And if a Zoom really is required, give attendees as much notice as possible.”
2. Set up a dedicated spot and forget it
Another way to make video calls less draining is to figure out the mechanics of our Zoom set-up. Then, if possible, leave it set up so that you don’t have to worry about it every time you log on.
“None of this needs to be expensive or time consuming,” Blakely assures us. The most important elements are a decent light source in front of you, a well-positioned camera, and solid sound.
Pro tip: In the desktop version of Zoom, Blakely suggests that we use the touch-up-my-appearance function in our video settings. “It’s not perfect, but it will smooth out the appearance of your skin.”
3. Know your responsibilities as host
Whether you’re an attendee or host, Zoom meetings demand a lot of time and energy. And one thing we should remember is that Zoom meetings are not meant to last hours.
As a host, it is important to keep people engaged. It is important to stick to a schedule, and make plans to keep their attention.
Pro tip: Start with action. “That could take the form of posing a provocative question to everyone or asking them to share small victories,” says Blakely. “Likewise, at the end of the call, review any necessary follow-up tasks.”
4. Stop staring at yourself
We all do it: When the camera is on, we tend to look mostly at our own faces. Then we get zoned out. Before the meeting starts, Blakely suggests that we “preview our video set-up. Then remove vanity as an additional distraction—and focus on what your colleagues are saying—by hiding your own video from your view.”
Pro tip: Blakely recommends that we adopt a few active listening habits. “These include figuring out beforehand what value you can add to the discussion; repeating what you’ve just heard to solidify your understanding; and taking notes to keep your mind on the topic at hand.”
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the senior vice president for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chairman.
We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.
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