Prior to COVID, I was one of the people who didn’t like to turn on their camera when working remotely. Almost no one did it, so I wasn’t about to be the first. But now that many of us have been fully remote for a couple of years, it’s interesting how things have changed. Here are some reasons why you should turn your camera on:
Body Language
So much of human communication is revealed through body language. How we sit – are we leaning in or back? What gestures do we make with our hands? Are your arms crossed or open? Are you looking directly into the camera, or somewhere else offscreen? Without seeing someone on video, you have no clue what they might really be doing or feeling.
Facial Expressions
Coupled with body language, facial expressions are also crucial to our understanding of what others are trying to communicate. Do you look confused? How about angry, or scared? Are you amused, dumb-founded, frustrated, or happy? By just looking at someone’s face, we are hardwired to recognize the emotions being expressed. If you’re video isn’t on, you might not pick up on these vital cues.
Humanization
By not turning on your camera, you’re just some disembodied voice. I’ve worked with numerous people who, even during and post-COVID, never once turned on their cameras. We worked together for months, but I still had no idea what they looked like. I also noticed that people who don’t turn their cameras on often don’t have a profile picture on their LinkedIn page (any correlation?). By having your video on, you can see the other person as a fellow human being, not just some resource or commodity.
Context
If people don’t put up funky background images or blur things to total obscurity, you can get a sense of a person. Look at their walls – do they have any artwork, family photos, or framed diplomas? Does their background have a bed or a bookcase, or windows? Are the person’s shelves filled with books or knick-knacks? Do they have plants? Are they inside or outside? What does their decor look like? All these little details about a person’s environment can help you better understand and relate to them.
Relatability
I don’t know if “relatability” is an actual word (although it must be because Grammarly didn’t flag it for me), but by being seen, you are more relatable. If your cat suddenly walks across your keyboard, a dog sits behind you wagging its tail, your child pops in to ask for a snack, or your husband comes by to give you a kiss goodbye – these are all things that other people can relate to.
Final Thoughts
I hope this short blog gave you a few things to think about. If you don’t turn on your camera, people are missing out on a lot of what you have to say. Don’t be the invisible person – no one cares if you’re having a bad hair day – we all have them. So turn on the video!
If you can think of any other reasons people should turn their video cameras on, please let me know in the comments below!