Welcome Wednesday: Work Check - Should you turn your camera on in video calls?

[#1]

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

If you have never heard Atlassian's podcast Work Check, you need to go check it out.  Season 3 kicked off yesterday and they have started with a great debate!

Should you turn your camera on in video calls?  Now, before everyone starts jumping in to answer there were some starting assumptions that really helped change my own answer from "it depends" to a definite for one side of the debate.

"by default, we're talking about team norms, not a policy or a company mandate. And let's go ahead and exclude any meeting over 50 people. We're talking about meetings where there's an assumption that you'll be participating, like actively."

Personally, if I'm the one running the meeting, or I'm an active participant, I like having my camera turned on.  I have a greenscreen behind me at all times, and I love using different backgrounds (including video ones) which work well as either an ice breaker for people to have something to talk about as we wait for people to join the meeting.

I work on a 100% remote team and part of our morning standup (the end of it) is let as an optional time for people to chat about anything and everything.  Being able to see everyone is really important for helping to build those personal connections with others.

In addition, on the counter side against videos being on, I disagree with the idea that "being on video" is stressful.  In some of my spare time, I'm a hobbyist Twitch streamer where I will be "on camera" for hours at a time (for charity up to 24 hours at a time).

Anyway, you have all heard me ramble on about my thoughts and opinions about this topic, but I would love to hear your opinions.  Go check out the episode and let me know which debater swayed you to their side.

Let me know in the comments below.

Have a great rest of the week!

[Patrícia Fortunato Montenegro]

Great topic @Jimmy Seddon!

I work 100% remotely too, and I always keep my camera on for better interaction and to be comprehensive in the right tone and body language. I think it's truly important in my POV.

Even when I'm not an active speaker, people always ask my opinion at the Company, which is another reason to appear in a good mood. 😃😁

Unless I have a lot of sequential meetings and need to eat a snack, I turned off and soon back on, lol.

Have a great day, Community! 

[Kristin Lyons]

I'm definitely a "it depends" person.  Sometimes it's nice to see my team especially if someone is mostly listening, you can see that person acknowledging the conversation without speaking (shaking their head, eye contact, etc).  If there's a training, I don't think it's necessary to have videos on.  I think it also depends on the amount of people in the meeting as well, smaller groups make it easier to have video on.

[Amanda Barber]

My company is very small.

I'm part of a dev team of 15 people, a product team of 3 people and a customer experience team of 4 people. All of the teams are heavily cameras ON which I love! Our dev standups are about 13 cameras on with 2 off each day.

It's SO much more engaging to chat with people with cameras on and helps remote life not feel so isolating.

[Joseph Hansbrough]

I really enjoyed the podcast episode and I appreciated the research that went into supporting both sides of the argument. Generally, I think that having the camera on usually connotes a level of trust and responsibility on that end. That's not to say that I haven't been caught multi-tasking, but it holds you accountable. Of course, there are those who are less likely to want to be on and operate better when doing so - ultimately, whatever works best! I just know it helps keep me honest and build trust with others. 

[Summer Hogan]

Great topic @Jimmy Seddon! I work from my home office full time, so I typically have my camera on as I am not shy! I also like the different ways it fosters relationship building. I listened to the podcast and neither side swayed me because I already use my camera a lot. The only exception to this rule is when I am the only one with my camera on. In this scenario, it is quite uncomfortable that everyone can see me, but I can't see them. 

[Lauren Allen]

I am definitely a camera on fan.  I have my zoom meetings set-up to default to camera on rather than off. If we would have had an in person meeting had we been in the office, then we should be visible for the interaction online.

Having said that, I also deliver remote training and I completely understand that it's difficult to keep the camera on for 8hrs when you are mostly listening rather than talking. So for training, I ask that people turn their camera on for the introductions at the start of the session and then it's up to them whether to turn them off or not for the rest of the session.

It can be disconcerting to be talking at a computer screen and no other participants visible, but the interactive nature of the training means there is still regular discussion and check-ins to make sure people are still awake.  Much tougher when it's a very quiet crowd though. 

[Trudy Claspill]

Interesting topic @Jimmy Seddon 

Speaking as an introvert that has learned to act like an extrovert, and a person that relies heavily on visual input to feel a sense of engagement with other people...

I work in a fully remote job doing consultation with clients in addition to company meetings. Company policy is "cameras on". I feel like cameras on is important to establish a connection with other people for somebody like me that is very biased to visual input (vs. audio input). 

Having said that, as an introvert I hate having my camera on. I feel forced to appear more engaged physically (nod or shake my head, smile, have some animated facial expressions) because people can see me, and introverts don't like to feel pressured to engage. Without the actual physical presence of other people I find I am prone to "resting introvert face", where I appear disengaged and distracted. So I very much understand people who say it is "stressful" to be on camera. 

I would prefer to have my camera off, but for everybody else to have their camera on!  :-D

[Dave Mathijs]

@Trudy Claspill As an introvert, I can so relate to your story. 

On the other hand, I don't like when people don't have their camera on, especially when I'm interacting directly with them.

Non-verbal communication is important and I'd like to "see" if a person is interested, (dis)agrees with me, is actually listening or busy with something completely different, etc.

I'm a hybrid worker and to be honest, I really prefer the face-to-face in-person meetings over a video call.

That being said I would be interested in a Orbiit 1:1 Leader Match with you.

[Tuncay Senturk]

I work remotely full-time and usually prefer to keep my camera on during online meetings. However, it can be a little uncomfortable if I'm the only one with my camera on. In such situations, I may opt to turn off my camera.

[Nikki Zavadska _Appfire_]

Agree with you Jimmy!

After years of working remote having camera on while interacting on meetings is one of the best ways to create connections and trust with the team.

In the end of the day the teams that know each other on a little bit deeper level deliver better results and are happier in general 💙

[Jousef]

I love the idea of the video background to solve as an icebreaker. I'm using the Blue Yeti microphone, a remnant of my attempts to be a Twitch streamer. People see it and immediately react and we can have a nice conversation or I can joke about it and it just instantly creates a nice relaxed environment.

Under these conditions as you described Jimmy, I'm also strongly on the side of camera always on. Reading body and face gestures is really important to understand a person fully I think. I'm on the more introvert side of the spectrum but I too think that it's not stressful to be "on camera". Granted, every person is different and you never know what kind of fears there could be. But in general, in a professional environment, you should be visible to your peers.

[Taranjeet Singh]

Great topic, @Jimmy Seddon !

I am also inclined to "it depends" on this topic.

Based on whether I am an active participant, whether the meeting group is small, whether everybody is keeping their cameras on during the meeting, whether I am at a place where the background scene, noise or situation allows me to comfortably keep my camera on, and several other related factors, I decide if I have to turn on my camera or keep it off.

On the other hand, based on my experience, I have observed that a bigger factor for a lot of people in making this decision is whether a person is an introvert or an extrovert. Rest other factors kind of take a back seat when it comes to the personality of an individual regarding being comfortable in presenting themselves out or speaking out, and I feel such decisions should always be left to the discretion of such individuals in order to help them feel comfortable and perform well in team meetings or webinars.

Have a great rest of the week everyone!

[Juanita Williams]

I work remotely full-time, and I love it when everyone on our team or in smaller meetings (10 to 15ish) has their camera on.  I can react with expression rather than chime in with a comment and I can see my peers' reactions.  I feel like it makes remote work more personable.

[Chris K]

This is an interesting topic and also discussed at my workplace, since video calls are the standard communication tool, especially in IT. I am definitely team "camera on", but I also find my self turning the camera off, especially in big meetings or announcements, where my full attention might be not needed. As I am thinking about it, it is quite disrespectful to the speaker, if people use the meeting time with camera-off and mute to do other stuff... But yeah on the other hand, if there is a lot of workload you try your best, to get the important things done, so the questions should be "should I take part in the meeting in first place? is it relevant for me or do I have an active part in it? This reminds me of a short video from Adam Grant, who puts the question "why do we meet? in focus... So maybe I'll just skip the meetings, in which I would think "I can turn my camera off and do other things, because my participation doesn't matter anyway" and visit and/or host the meetings, that are important for my daily work and goals...

Thank you @Jimmy Seddon for the incitements :D

Greetings from Germany

Chris

[Ash Yadav]

I would usually keep the camera off (read the room situation, if everyone has theirs on then I will too) but it can be a bit awkward being the only one with it on as you end up just kind of sitting there staring at names hoping they are listening. 

Situationally dependent for me personally. 

[Tom Whittle]

+1 for reading the room, if you are having a collaborative team meeting then I think facial expressions can help us all understand how things are being said.

[Juan Carlos Vera]

Great!

[Casper Hjorth Christensen]

web cam should always been on.

working mostly remote, and otherwise helps to keep teams connected

[Teodora V _Fun Inc_]

Sometimes, the camera being on saves me from bursting into an honest rage when the topic goes wrong :D

Being a 100% remote company, we don't see each other very often, so I like talking to people with my camera on. However, I never demand others always to have their cameras on. Being comfortable is crucial for productive and honest conversation, and I always stick to people's preferences. 

[Mark Challinor]

I'm in agreement that 'it depends'.

[Valecia Goodnow]

Of course there will always be the exception but for the most part I'm a huge fan of keeping cameras on for a variety of reasons.  1) Engagement - even if you are an introvert you're more noticed if you're on camera.  A slight facial expression or a head nod may organically loop you into the dialogue that is in progress.  2) Accountability - you've been invited to this call for a specific reason and camera on helps to keep you focused versus day dreaming out the window.  3) The social aspect of seeing faces helps others feel part of a team.  4) TEAM

[Syed Muhammad Ammad Mansoor]

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