If you prefer to listen instead of reading:
If you can, turn your camera on!
In 2024, I had numerous online meetings on Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet. In 100% of them, I had my camera on, whereas in about 90%, the other participants kept theirs off.
I understand that not everyone feels “camera-ready” when working from home, despite the many available filters, or has a quiet, distraction-free environment. But my final meeting of the year was particularly frustrating.
My client requested a last-minute translation from Portuguese to English of a business proposal worth millions of reais. The purpose of the meeting was to address language issues, technical vocabulary, and tone for their sales pitch. As if the last-minute request wasn’t challenging enough, all four participants, from different departments, were physically at the company during the meeting—yet, unsurprisingly, I was the only one with my camera on. And yes, it was a communication company.
I felt deeply uncomfortable. If they couldn’t or didn’t want to turn on their cameras, a simple acknowledgment or opting for a conference call would have been more appropriate.
During the meeting, after the third or fourth long pause, I thought there was a connection issue. I asked, “Are you listening? Is there a problem with the connection?” They replied, “No, we heard you loud and clear; we are thinking.”
If I had seen their faces during the pauses, I would have realized they were thinking rather than assuming a connection issue. Instead, it felt like I was speaking into a void.
There are many reasons to keep your camera on, but simply put, studies show that 55% of communication is body language, 38% is tone of voice, and only 7% is the actual words spoken. That means 93% of communication is nonverbal. When cameras are off, digital presenters lose more than half of the nonverbal information available in face-to-face interactions.
As a language consultant, I’ve seen firsthand how crucial nonverbal cues are in effective communication. Keeping your camera on during virtual meetings is a simple yet powerful way to enhance understanding and connection. It shows respect for the speaker and the meeting’s purpose, fostering a more engaging and productive interaction.
In a world where virtual meetings have become the norm, turning on your camera can bridge the gap between digital and face-to-face communication. It ensures that the richness of human interaction is preserved, even through a screen. Simply turning on your camera can make all the difference.
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