Remote Work Rants: Should You Turn Your Camera On for Every Meeting?

05/08/23 • 17 min

7 Listeners

Long-Distance Worklife - A Hybrid & Remote Work Podcast

Marisa Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel tackle more pet peeves sent in by listeners, including one from @NikSoro about the annoyance of receiving messages without checking someone's Slack status. The hosts discuss strategies for managing notifications, setting boundaries, and communicating effectively in virtual teams. They also delve into a topic from Nola Simon on webcam usage in virtual meetings and explore the psychology behind camera-on versus camera-off meetings. Whether you're a remote worker or a team leader, this episode offers practical advice on how to navigate common communication challenges and build a more productive and supportive virtual work environment. Tune in to learn how to balance availability and focus, manage expectations, and foster respectful communication in your remote team.

Key Takeaways

Checking someone's Slack status before sending a message can help you respect their boundaries and avoid unnecessary interruptions.
Setting boundaries, such as turning off notifications during specific hours or using an icon in your status to indicate when you're away from your desk, can help you manage distractions and increase your productivity.
Respecting others' needs and preferences is essential for building trust and fostering healthy communication in virtual teams.
Using a webcam during virtual meetings can enhance connection and collaboration, but it's important to be mindful of the potential for webcam fatigue and to respect individual preferences for camera-on or camera-off meetings.
Effective communication in virtual teams requires discipline, initiative, and a commitment to living one's values. By setting clear expectations, managing distractions, and respecting others' needs, remote workers and team leaders can build a more productive and supportive virtual work environment.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:36 When People Don't Check Slack Statuses Before Messaging

00:03:03 Respectful Communication and Responsiveness

00:07:23 Managing Slack Messages and Video Conferencing Pet Peeves

00:08:54 Benefits of Turning On Cameras During Meetings

00:11:07 Importance of Webcam Functionality in Meetings

00:12:35 Coaching Conversation: The 51% Rule

00:14:11 Conclusion

Related Episodes

Additional Resources

Key Takeaways

Checking someone's Slack status before sending a message can help you respect their boundaries and avoid unnecessary interruptions.
Setting boundaries, such as turning off notifications during specific hours or using an icon in your status to indicate when you're away from your desk, can help you manage distractions and increase your productivity.
Respecting others' needs and preferences is essential for building trust and fostering healthy communication in virtual teams.
Using a webcam during virtual meetings can enhance connection and collaboration, but it's important to be mindful of the potential for webcam fatigue and to respect individual preferences for camera-on or camera-off meetings.
Effective communication in virtual teams requires discipline, initiative, and a commitment to living one's values. By setting clear expectations, managing distractions, and respecting others' needs, remote workers and team leaders can build a more productive and supportive virtual work environment.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:36 When People Don't Check Slack Statuses Before Messaging

00:03:03 Respectful Communication and Responsiveness

00:07:23 Managing Slack Messages and Video Conferencing Pet Peeves

00:08:54 Benefits of Turning On Cameras During Meetings

00:11:07 Importance of Webcam Functionality in Meetings

00:12:35 Coaching Conversation: The 51% Rule

00:14:11 Conclusion

Related Episodes

Additional Resources

Previous Episode

Mastering Your Mindset for Remote Work: Tips and Strategies from Angela Shurina, an Executive Brain Coach

Wayne Turmel interviews Angela Shurina, an executive brain coach, about how to stay productive while working remotely. They discuss the evolving workplace and the growing trend of remote work, which allows people to work from anywhere. However, Shurina notes that many people struggle with the mindset needed for remote work, and she provides tips and strategies to help listeners overcome these challenges. One key issue is the importance of creating boundaries between work and home life, as well as differentiating between different work tasks. Shurina also emphasizes the brain's adaptability and the importance of understanding how to use it effectively, which she calls the "Brain's User Manual." Overall, this episode offers valuable insights and tips for anyone navigating the world of remote work.

Key Takeaways

1. Creating boundaries between work and home life is crucial for remote work success. 2. Differentiating between work tasks and having designated work areas in the same space can improve productivity. 3. Understanding the brain's adaptability and learning how to use it effectively can help overcome the challenges of remote work. 4. Overcoming the difficulties of mastering a remote work mindset requires checking assumptions against reality and using resources available to make changes. 5. The brain is an adaptive machine, and small environmental changes can have a large effect on focus and productivity.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Benefits of Working Remotely

00:02:05 Working Remotely and Mastering Oneself

00:06:58 Exploring the Benefits of Establishing Boundaries in the Workplace

00:08:57 Benefits of Understanding the Brain's User Manual

00:10:52 Overcoming Feelings of Overwhelm

00:13:36 Advantages of Digital Organization Systems

00:15:44 Organization, Overcoming Procrastination, and Brain Biology

00:17:30 Overcoming Procrastination and Designing Teams for Remote Hybrid Work

Related Episodes

Featured Guest

Name: Angela Shurina
What She Does: Executive Brain/Performance Coach
Notable: Angela helps entrepreneurs, executives and teams to optimize workflow, lifestyle and nutrition habits to help the brain perform optimally to achieve personal and professional goals faster and without burnout. Let’s make the brain our ally not the enemy.
https://www.instagram.com/angelabrainbodycoach/
https://twitter.com/angelashurina
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-shurina-nomad-health-focus-coach/
https://brainbreakthroughcoach.com/sustainable-productivity-for-purpose-driven-founders/

Additional Resources

Next Episode

Strategies for Career Growth in a Remote Work Era with Catherine Morgan

Wayne Turmel and Catherine Morgan, a career transition expert, delve into the dynamic and ever-changing world of work, offering valuable insights on how to navigate the evolving landscape and stay employed. Drawing on her extensive industry experience, Catherine shares expert advice on career planning and remote work. They explore the transformations in recruitment and hiring practices over recent years and provide actionable strategies for managing one's career effectively. Catherine emphasizes the importance of staying abreast of the latest trends and technologies, maintaining motivation, and embracing flexibility. She highlights the significance of seizing opportunities for professional development and networking, while also encouraging listeners to create a well-defined plan for career growth and embrace calculated risks. Additionally, they discuss the impact of the pandemic on work dynamics, challenging traditional mindsets, and advocating for individuals to carve their own paths. This episode offers practical guidance on remote work advantages, future-proofing careers, nurturing professional relationships, and finding the balance between personal goals and organizational responsibilities.

Featured Guest

Name: Catherine Morgan

What She Does: Career Transition Expert

Notable: Catherine Altman Morgan is the author of the #1 New Release This Isn’t Working! Evolving the Way We Work to Decrease Stress, Anxiety, and Depression . Catherine is a career transition expert, business consultant, and the founder of Point A to Point B Transitions Inc., named Career Transition Coaching Service of the Year, as part of the Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Awards 2021 and 2022, and Most Innovative Career Transition Coach - North America, as part of Corporate Coaching and Recruitment Awards 2021 and 2022 by Corporate Vision. The company is a virtual provider of coaching services to professionals in career transition and solo consultants.

Additional Resources

Order The Long-Distance Team

Remote leadership experts, Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel, help leaders navigate the new world of remote and hybrid teams to design the culture they desire for their teams and organizations in their new book! https://longdistanceteambook.com/

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