I recently conducted a 30 min ZOOM call with a project deadline looming in the background.
The call was going really well and flowing nicely.
When we approached the 30 min mark of the discussion, it felt necessary to extend beyond the allotted 30 min time limit.
As we continued the discussion, I needed to get a few items out to my partner working on our project.
So, with this being said, I attempted to multi-task…
AND…needless to say, it didn’t go well.
While the other person was speaking, I pulled up another window and took a screenshot of an image that I intended to send to my partner.
Not sure what I was thinking at the time…..clearly, I wasn’t….
……..because my computer made the screenshot noise, “chhhh chhhh”, and both of us on the ZOOM call immediately stopped in our tracks.
As soon as it happened, the other person responded…..“Did you just take a picture of me?!”
I didn’t know this person well.
In fact, it was the first time we’d ever spoken with one another individually.
At that moment, I froze, and continued with the conversation as if nothing happened.
Aside from looking like a total creep, I neglected to be transparent and apologize in that moment for not giving my undivided attention.
I eventually shared what happened and apologized, and everything turned out well; however, my choice to multi-task disrupted the flow of the conversation and more importantly, eroded the trust that we’d established during the call.
It was a huge wakeup call for me and a reminder to be even more vigilant on staying focused during ZOOM calls.
As we shift into this new working paradigm, the virtual nature of your conversations will challenge you to stay energetically connected to the person(s) on the other end.
Consider this…..When you divvy up your energy, you’re essentially telling the person(s) on the other end that he/she/they/them isn’t worthy of your full attention.
It’s a shitty feeling to be on the receiving end of someone giving you half of their attention.
And it feels even shittier to get caught in the middle of not giving the other person the attention they deserve.
Trust me, I know!
