Should Cameras Be On Or Off During Virtual Training?
Photo by Julia M Cameron from Pexels
Turn your camera...OFF??
Have you ever found yourself on a Zoom call and just all of a sudden wanted to turn your camera off?
This happened to me recently.
The person speaking hadn't offended me. I was happy to participate in the conversation.
But I became overwhelmed with the desire to turn my camera off.
And at that point, it was all I could think about.
Turn my camera off.
The Problem: Zoom Fatigue
Have you felt this way?
You are not alone if you have.
Here's the thing: this happens to your staff too.
The Opportunity: Leading with Compassion
And we, as purpose-filled leaders, can lead with empathy and compassion. We can recognize that our staff have different needs.
It's one of the reasons I spend so much time talking about understanding your audience before you ever begin creating a learning, leadership development, or DEI experience for them.
Solution: How to Use Cameras in Virtual Training
Tips:
Provide flexibility.
Turn cameras off when screen share is in use.
Turn cameras on when in group discussion.
We have this amazing opportunity to design experiences that build skill, trust, and loyalty. These are experiences that help you and your staff lead well, that optimize your teams for impact, and create a thriving, inclusive culture.
So if you need to turn your camera off in your next call - or you see a staff person do so - remember, sometimes we just need a break from the camera.
About the Author
An experienced learning & development professional, Heather Burright is a principal consultant with Skill Masters Market.
