Insight #11
One of the more interesting little knacks I found when chatting with tech companies is that most coders even prefer to interact with their camera off during online-meetings.
While audio only is booming on social media, with Clubhouse, Twitter spaces, Linkedin audio and Facebook audio on the horizon, we get our fair share of live audio.
But, in tech, audio only meetings has been pretty normal for quite a while.
On the business side, HR and other parts tend to have more zoom meeting with the camera on. In IT, people tend to focus on their tech skills rather than people skills - understandably, as it is not their primary job.
Regarding why, it has been explained to me that it has to do with the work, where developers usually talk about code, code architecture, backlogs and so on. Thus, they have to look at the screen for work, maybe share the screen even to go through code. They don't really look at someone anyway - so why bother with a camera. There are other reasons but let's not go into this.
Audio only has some implications regarding communication.
When breaking down the components of communication, 55% comes from facial expressions and body language, 38% comes from vocal inflexion and tone of voice, and 7% from the words themselves. Audio is only telling you half the story.
We learn way more effective when we have audio and visual in comparison to audio-only teachings.
Imagine having to try and figure out sarcastic comments or surprised reactions if you can not see the other persons face. There is a reason police investigators interrogate people in person AND film them. There is so much information in the visual that we can barely process that in real-time appropriately.
Having a team that works with audio-only needs to have a tighter feedback loop - because the chances for misunderstandings are so much higher.
It is different if you are having a small group where all can chat and exchange or if you are having a large group of invisible profile pictures that don't speak. Generally, the larger the group, the faster people want to go back to what they were doing because it is less personal.
Here are four-ish tips for communicating in audio spaces that make quite a difference.
Proper audio equipment
Yes, I take using proper audio equipment for granted. Get your tech equip right. If you talk for an hour, your microfone needs to be good. Point. If not, it is annoying to communicate with you. Everything that distracts from the person speaking makes it harder wanting to speak to that person, and to hear their message. We talk about background noise, other people being on the phone, large echos and so on. Invest in a headset or microfone and at the beginning of the call, ask if everybody can hear you and if the audio quality is ok. Give feedback to people who overblow the microfone or have massive background noise, so that the meetings itself are not more of a chore than they already are.
State what you want
Say what the meeting is about, the aim and what you will have achieved in XX amount of minutes. Then have the meeting and tell the people what you expect and what you want from them. Implying what someone else should do between the lines is a bad habit, especially when they are not in the meeting themselves. It is even less a good idea if you work with people that care about factually correct things. State what you want to the people that are there and be clear about it.
Speak clearly.
If you are a fast speaker, consider everything you say has to be processed by your counterpart. So make sure you don't swallow syllables and speak clearly. Great broadcasters and podcasters speak all very clear, and they don't rush sentences. That is how you know they have experience.
Don't be afraid of pauses.
Discussing things in real life means having pauses to look at things, to think, to laugh, to nod in silence. and also to unmute the microfone and speak up. In audio-only spaces, we tend to want to fill the silence. You don't have to. When leading meetings, keep things short and tidy, give the appropriate time to have silence and, when time comes to move to the next topic, do so. But don't feel the need to speak for the sake of filling silence.
Summarise and ask
Detail-oriented people tend to relay details that are within their area of expertise as they are, which can be tough to follow at times. Try summarising their main point as you understand it in one sentence and repeat their question, with a "did I get that right?".
Audio cuts off, your connection looses and fragments audio bites... things happen. So if unclear, summarise, paraphrase and ask.
Make people know that they are being heard.
You are more invisible if you they can't see you in video. Some people prefer to rather listen in on certain topics; some team members are less chatty in general - which does not make their opinion or insights less important. Thus, quickly going for a short recap and asking the rest of the team for input before continuing on topic helps you overlook any team members. And it helps to close the feedback loop.
Staying innovative in the competitive global marketplace requires them to manage diverse teams in both virtual and office 2.0 setups. This hybrid scenario has given rise to the need for a new generation of leaders with enhanced skill sets.
Leaders that are equipped with relevant skills to lead said hybrid workforce win in the long run, because they can create an ecosystem that oversees everyone's best interest. They can instil a sense of trust among those still working from home and those who will be stepping back in office.
It does not matter what the product is: What has not changed, and, on this, I base my approach, is fundamental human communication.
Communication is where most fast scaling companies fail. This is where soft skills, people skills, come in handy.
And what better way is there to start with learning soft skills than here.
(Shameless self ad, I know. :)
See ya next time