With remote working video conferences have gained significant popularity. Whilst video conference software packages allow the user to activate or deactivate the camera there seems to be a clear push towards a single state of the camera switch: Camera on.
‘Camera on’ I hear many agilists suggest, plead for, pray for, want, demand or need. As remote working wiggles itself into our ‘new-normal’ some of us feel the urge to standardise the etiquette for video conferencing.
As bubbly interactive people’s people we agile enthusiasts want fullest blown interaction. We seemingly rely on optical clues about the (emotional) state of our conversation partner(s). Loaded with high optical feedback we iteratively guide the conversation from the back of the room towards increased value for the customers. Or so we like to think. Is it really always beneficial to have camera ON? Could there be hidden pearls in the alternative?
Where are the advantages of ‘Camera off’? When is it simply okay or even better to remain an icon everyone’s computer screen?
- What about introvert or shy people who feel continuous discomfort or stress when being watched by the camera lens at the horizon of the laptop bezel? Some might contribute more to the discussion if that awkward mirror image of self does not spits one’s words back in one’s own face with half a second of delay. Eek.
- Maybe I take the all-company meeting for a walk whilst listening to the enticing strategy of the C-level suit how to crack the new OKRs that we all ‘agreed’ on. Maybe I can relate more quickly to the new enterprise values when I am in the local park just 10 minutes away from my house.
- Does the Silverback Senior Software Engineer need to dedicate 100% of her/his attention to the battle of the wild young horses in this sprint’s retrospective? Would switching to Kanban now really solve the code rot that has pushed the number of bugs into the red? Camera off — fix a bug and drop a comment at the right time might be a lean response to the situation and make best use of a valuable employee.
- As a Product Owner — can I tune audio-only into the MeetUp talk about Large Scale Scrum whilst chucking dinner into the oven for the family?
More generally speaking: Can we trust our communication partners to make a mature decision if optical presence is really needed? Do we need camera on as a means to install attention and participation? Yes, there are situations and teams where disengagement is a problem.
Rather than demanding visual presence shall we not provide enticing content to spike interest? Most people do pay attention when they see that it is worth it. Dedicated, outcome driven and value focused short meetings with the relevant personal is my answer to the attempt of the new-normal remote-working etiquette.
