My team thought I was nuts for turning off my camera during the morning sync

I mean, the whole office culture pushes for video on to show you're engaged. But today, I kept my camera off and just listened while organizing my emails. I actually felt less stressed and still got all the updates I needed. Maybe it's just me, but not seeing everyone's faces helped me focus better on my own work.

3 comments

3 Comments

joel_butler2mo ago

Actually, it's probably less about the faces and more about the pressure to perform for the camera. You just cut out a layer of stress.

richard2262mo ago

My friend used to get so worked up before video calls, fixing her hair and checking the light. She finally tried audio only last week and said it was like a weight lifted. She could actually focus on the talk instead of her own face on the screen. What EricPrice said about never putting it together before really fits her situation. She just needed someone to point out that the camera itself was the problem. Now she refuses to turn it on unless absolutely forced.

ericprice2mo ago

For years I thought it was about seeing faces. But you're right, the camera pressure is HUGE. I never put that together before.