Yep. It’s a thing, or so says a study coming out of Stanford. In a recent conversation with a group of highly exceptional professional (and somewhat ZOOM fatigued) women, someone asked about why I thought a ZOOM call can be so exhausting. After all, I can have real-life meetings one after another and I don’t get that same drained feeling as I do after just a few ZOOM meetings. I began to search for answers.

Like so many of the virtual challenges, there is insight to be found in communication research. Did you know…
·     Sustained direct eye contact (even virtual eye contact) requires an unexpected amount of emotional energy.
·     Watching myself perform hour after hour on my ZOOM screen (I’ll admit it, I watch myself on ZOOM way more than who is talking) is intense. Coming across smooth and professional, non-stop, takes work.
·     Keeping in camera view reduces my mobility (no more bouncing, stretching, looking around, pacing, or taking quick breaks).
·     The lack of non-verbal cues requires a “heavier cognitive load” since we have to infer so many things that we would usually know just by looking at the way someone is sitting or what their office looks like.

So, what does Stanford suggest?
1. Make your ZOOM screen small so the eye contact isn’t quite so direct and intense.
2. Choose the “hide self” view. (Don’t worry. You will still look good.)
3. Why NOT pace during  a ZOOM meeting?
4. Stanford suggests you also turn off your camera every now and then. Sorry, Stanford, we need to be careful with this one. The loss of visual cues further reduces “social presence” which can also reduce team bonding and trust building. If you choose this option, make sure it doesn’t become a norm and for heaven’s sake, if the meeting is important or includes some sort of emotional content, visually re-engage.

We need to adjust our communication to fit the limitations of the technology.  For now, knowing how to reduce ZOOM fatigue just may be the game changer.

Jeremy Bailenson’s 2021 study can be found in the Standford Report. https://lnkd.in/ggEmUbpP