Zoom meetings are no substitute for face-to-face and eye contact, Pastor Bill Mitchell advised at BocaLead. “You will lose something. The meaningfulness of the conversation goes down. Make the best of Zoom, but acknowledge it’s not face to face,” Mitchell said to a quarter of the usual attendees for social distancing, and online viewers from Boca Raton Community Church. The monthly group “helps the business community raise the bar on how to do business together.” https://www.bocacommunity.org/bocalead/
Here’s his pointers on “The Importance of Eye Contact”:
- Most people only listen with an intent to reply. Show you are listening. You need to be present when you are in front of people. You also need a healthy sense of curiosity. Learn how to ask good questions.
- You have to show respect to people you are working with. If you know you will be interrupted, especially by a phonecall, let them know in advance. Train your people to realize there’s an etiquette to taking calls. Have a pre-arranged system with your family when or not you should answer their call.
- If you have a multi-cultural workforce, develop a culture that works. References to movies or colloquialisms may mean nothing to people born or raised in other places.
- Help people see your vision and direction. Did you ever have a salesperson not look you in the eye? Did you trust that person?
- Show your willingness to collaborate, i.e., “I am interested in what you are saying.” It is just as valid to decide not to collaborate.
- Eye contact shows significant belonging and self-worth. Build trust. As leaders, you want to make this a better place. Part of that is working eye-to-eye and face-to-face.
By Marci Shatzman
