Who's Zooming (or Teaming) who

With the pandemic and the need to remotely meet people, the use of technology and video conferencing has become essential. It doesn't seem like the need may go away soon. For some people like myself with a disability, It's meant that I've become more involved. it's actually opened lots more doors (or screens). It's something I've been waiting to happen for years. I initially tried it 12 years ago in a previous role to help local interpreters work remotely. Unfortunately, the technology at the time just didn't make it reliable. Things have thankfully come along way.

One thing that's comes as surprise to me is how this change has meant a lot of the more formal meeting rules seem to have changed. Also, how much more relaxed the rules of meetings and what we start to see about people's personalities become more evident.

In a normal office environment, people often only get to see a little of your personality, your clothes, desk may have little clues, but this doesn't give out much information about yourself. Perhaps a mug, a piece of jewellery, or photos of pets/family. The environment is also very busy, there's noise and a room with other people and windows offer quite a few distractions.

The new method of online video conferencing seems to change a lot of that. To me, it's fascinating; a previous part of my old job involved picking up visual clues to help read people. With the usage of technology, this seems to be further enhanced and is literally in your face. I believe people just haven't caught on to these facts or have fully become aware of them. I know body language isn't an exact science; it can be misread, and it can be used to both benefit and mislead a person. I do know from experience that our bodies constantly leak and give off messages, even without opening your mouth or saying a word. Only so much of the message you'r giving comes out of the mouth.

Let's just jump back a bit, as soon as your cameras on and people see you, automatically they're in your home. Usually seeing you in a place where you're more comfortable, your decor, furniture, book shelves (I've read you can order dummy book fronts from a company to show you're more well read) your wall pictures all tell a story about you. Some may use corporate backgrounds, but even that says something. These all tell people a little more than they would have previously known or seen. 

More importantly is how a person comes across. Unlike the real world where there are lots of distractions, you are faced full of virtually staring at a person's face, closer than you would normally see them. People really start to see you, not just your face, hair, and make-up, but the micro expressions made on the face through the head and particularly through the eyes.

I have said things and instinctively known whether the recipient has taken in it positively or negatively, whether what I'm saying the person's interested in or bored. even whether they are really listening or just hearing. It takes a bit of practise and knowledge, but looking at someone through these micro expressions can lead you to see whether the knowledge is real or made up. All this is so evident and much more enhanced in these environments. Is this a good thing or not? It does make it more interesting. 

Wether you see or choose to look is up to you, but it will be interesting to see if a new school of etiquette,meeting rules and techniques will come along to either enhance or hide these facts. I'm sorry

to say turning your camera off won't help, as after a while, people will be wondering what's hiding. Strange how technology that allows us to be also, actually, without realising it, giving us more of an insight into people's Iives and thoughts.