BY KELLY MAIN, WRITER/ADVISER@THEKELLYMAIN for INC.
photo by Getty Images
It’s costing businesses money and employees their happiness.
Zoom has become an everyday part of millions of lives and part of nearly everyone’s vocab, with 300 million users per day. And yet, there’s one problem that persists — and it comes at a high cost. It’s not the occasional audio issues, reminiscent of the Verizon commercial catchphrase “can you hear me now?” It’s not the “Zoom Ceiling” or video-call burnout. It has nothing to do with well-engineered technology, but instead with well-meaning people.
More specifically, well-meaning people trying to be too well-mannered. But in an effort to have good manners, we can end up having bad meetings.
It’s the type of bad meeting that doesn’t prove productive, and a wave of relief washes over you as the call ends. Most of us have been there. But not because of a big presentation, a heavy problem to troubleshoot, or a high-pressure boss. It’s the deafening sounds of crickets when a question was asked and the team falls silent.
In my experience, it wasn’t that no one had opinions, thoughts, or ideas. Rather, people were trying desperately to avoid one thing we’ve always been advised not to do: interrupt one another.