Make Zoom more human, humane, effective and inclusive | Luci Englert McKean | TEDxBloomington
Leading professional development seminars requires a focus on rebuilding a sense of belonging by acknowledging that humans are physical, emotional mammals, not just heads. The speaker advocates for structured protocols, like the "Transitions Activity" and small breakout rooms, to counteract the trance induced by screens. Success in online collaboration depends on structured intentionality, moving beyond merely having the technology to practicing the care needed to see and hear every voice. ## Speakers & Context - Speaker role: Presenter/Facilitator leading professional development seminars. - Setting: Online meeting/presentation environment. - Context: Establishing a model for building belonging in remote collaborative settings, moving beyond viewing participants solely as intellects. ## Theses & Positions - Conventional wisdom that humans are at the top of the food chain is flawed; humans are mammals, entire physical beings with emotions. - Feelings of unsafety trigger a "prey response," which is visceral and occurs quicker than rational thought, and thus cannot be thought away. - Hyper-vigilant use of screens for work and play can induce a "trance," where peripheral vision becomes a distraction rather than an asset. - Bodies sitting attentively watching on camera can become unhealthy; movement is necessary to counteract this. - A sense of belonging requires building trust; without it, groups cannot collaborate effectively. - The speaker's personal identity (white cisgender able-bodied, educated middle-class American living on land stolen from indigenous peoples) grants power, but awareness of its consequences is necessary to mitigate it. - Small groups are superior to large lecture halls for online collaboration because every person is seen and heard. - Structured conversations and protocols (e.g., "Transitions Activity") are essential tools for achieving true engagement and allowing everyone a chance to speak. ## Concepts & Definitions - **Mammals**: Biological category defining humans as full physical beings with emotions, not just intellectual heads. - **Prey response**: The immediate, visceral bodily feeling triggered when a person perceives danger or unsafety. - **Trance of screens**: State induced by screen time, causing peripheral vision to become a distraction. - **Belonging**: A required state or goal for effective group collaboration, built upon trust. - **Silent witnessing**: The imperative practice of not intervening to "fix" a situation, thus preserving the speaker's agency. ## Tools, Tech & Products - **Screens**: Medium for video calls, associated with potential trance and distraction. - **Video call/Video conferencing**: A mechanism for work that raises concerns regarding personal appearance, privacy, and equity. - **Chat box**: A tool that can be used strategically in online meetings. - **Google Docs (or other collaborative applications)**: Tools recommended to better frame conversations and invite increased engagement. - **Timer**: A tool used specifically for structuring the "Transitions Activity." - **Breakout rooms**: Recommended online tool for small, interactive group work. ## Mechanisms & Processes - **Prey Response Cascade**: Feeling unsafe $\rightarrow$ Physical sensation $\rightarrow$ Visceral reaction $\rightarrow$ Inability to use rational thought. - **Recommended Preparation Routine**: Arriving at meetings after having moved the body, hydrated, fed the body, and arriving with the intention to move. - **Transitions Activity**: A protocol using a timer, offering options to speak a thought/question, sit in silence, or choose another option, designed to anchor participants to the present moment. - **Group Facilitation for Belonging**: Implementing small groups/pairs, using structured conversations, and closing with anonymous feedback are mechanisms to ensure all members are seen and heard. ## Claims & Theses - The physical reality of being a mammal must be acknowledged over the intellectualization of the self. - When online, the mere *act* of being seen and heard in small groups generates more belonging than in large lecture formats. - Leading a cultural shift towards belonging requires sustained, focused effort and vulnerability from leaders. - Failure to notice and acknowledge silenced voices is a failure to build belonging. - The person who speaks and is listened to can undergo a profound experience, allowing them to "set it aside and take a breath and be here." ## Numbers & Data - Percentage of time Speaker B dominated the conversation: **21%**. - Total time reported for participants in a previous measurement: **13%**. - Time allotted for the "Transitions Activity": A few minutes using a **timer**. ## Examples & Cases - **Ineffective Format:** A "giant lecture hall" setting, which is poor for collaboration or learning. - **Effective Alternative:** Working in pairs or small groups, or engaging in a "walk and talk," which helps break the trance. - **Power Dynamics Example:** The speaker's identity as a white cisgender able-bodied, educated middle-class American living on land stolen from indigenous peoples is cited as an example of latent social power. ## Trade-offs & Alternatives - **Visible vs. Private Participation:** The trade-off between keeping cameras on (risking privacy/equity issues) and allowing cameras off (diminishing representation). - **Format:** Choosing small, contained, interactive groups over large, passive lecture hall structures. - **Cognitive Load:** The trade-off between immediate, automatic thought and the slower, more accurate processing advised by Daniel Kahneman. ## Counterarguments & Caveats - The use of video conferencing can trigger intense privacy and equity issues because not everyone has a "lovely space." - If people remain off camera for extended periods, they risk feeling "invisible," which is a loss to the group. - The power the facilitator holds (e.g., ability to mute everyone) is noted, and awareness of its consequences is crucial for mitigating that power. ## Methodology - Protocols for structured thinking: Including protocols for brainstorming, looking at data, and analyzing dilemmas. - Post-meeting data gathering: Using anonymous surveys asking what worked and what didn't work. - Observing speaking patterns: Using tools to track who speaks and who remains unheard. ## References Cited - **Daniel Kahneman**: Cited for advising individuals to slow down thinking for better results. ## Conclusions & Recommendations - Leaders must arrive in meetings having completed preparation steps (move body, hydrate, feed body) and with the explicit intention to move. - The fundamental goal when leading online sessions is to build belonging from the very beginning. - Use the "Transitions Activity" to anchor participants to the present moment. - When breakouts are used, leaders must give very clear instructions, set a time limit, and provide a specific prompt or question. - Always allow **60 seconds of silence** for everyone to process a question before anyone speaks. - Close meetings by administering an anonymous feedback survey to improve future sessions. ## Implications & Consequences - Lack of trust in groups prevents effective collaboration. - Failure to address power dynamics or the physical reality of participants leads to diminished representation and a sense of exclusion. - Sustained online work should not necessitate feeling remote from colleagues or classmates. ## Open Questions - What the world could look like if every person felt they belonged on this planet. - What life could be like if everyone learned to value people who seem very different from them. ## Verbatim Moments - *"It's easy to forget that we're mammals."* - *"I work to build a sense of belonging from the very beginning."* - *"Arrive in meetings having broken the trance of screens, having moved your body and hydrated and having moved your body and fed it and arrive with the intention to move."* - *"Silent witnessing is imperative."* - *"It's much better to interact in small groups around content."* - *"Allow 60 seconds of silence for everyone to think before anyone speaks."* - *"These are designed to bring you to the here and now to the present moment."* - *"The person who speaks and is listened to can have a very profound experience."*