Make Zoom more human, humane, effective and inclusive | Luci Englert McKean | TEDxBloomington
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdM69Fz9lLA Video ID: hdM69Fz9lLA ============================================================ [Music] many knowledge workers have it in our many knowledge workers have it in our many knowledge workers have it in our heads heads heads that we are only our heads that we are only our heads that we are only our heads it's easy to forget that we're mammals it's easy to forget that we're mammals it's easy to forget that we're mammals entire physical beings entire physical beings entire physical beings with emotions with emotions with emotions conventional wisdom holds that humans conventional wisdom holds that humans conventional wisdom holds that humans are at the top of the food chain are at the top of the food chain are at the top of the food chain and yet many people often experience and yet many people often experience and yet many people often experience life as prey life as prey life as prey when someone feels unsafe when someone feels unsafe when someone feels unsafe they feel that feeling in their bodies they feel that feeling in their bodies they feel that feeling in their bodies viscerally quicker than they can think a viscerally quicker than they can think a viscerally quicker than they can think a rational thought rational thought rational thought and when someone feels unsafe they and when someone feels unsafe they and when someone feels unsafe they cannot think that feeling away cannot think that feeling away cannot think that feeling away there are hyper vigilant use of screens there are hyper vigilant use of screens there are hyper vigilant use of screens for work and play can put us into a sort for work and play can put us into a sort for work and play can put us into a sort of trance of trance of trance peripheral vision becomes a distraction peripheral vision becomes a distraction peripheral vision becomes a distraction rather than an asset rather than an asset rather than an asset but eyes need the exercise of focusing but eyes need the exercise of focusing but eyes need the exercise of focusing on things beyond arm's reach on things beyond arm's reach on things beyond arm's reach and bodies and bodies and bodies that are sitting attentively watching on that are sitting attentively watching on that are sitting attentively watching on camera camera camera grow very uncomfortable grow very uncomfortable grow very uncomfortable and unhealthy and unhealthy and unhealthy and yet when we move to stretch and and yet when we move to stretch and and yet when we move to stretch and release that tension release that tension release that tension the others that are on the camera the others that are on the camera the others that are on the camera watching they start to feel watching they start to feel watching they start to feel uncomfortable uncomfortable uncomfortable rules about cameras on rules about cameras on rules about cameras on can not only trigger the prey response can not only trigger the prey response can not only trigger the prey response but they can raise intense but they can raise intense but they can raise intense privacy and equity issues privacy and equity issues privacy and equity issues not everyone has a lovely space in which not everyone has a lovely space in which not everyone has a lovely space in which to take video calls to take video calls to take video calls and concerns about personal appearance and concerns about personal appearance and concerns about personal appearance can have significant cultural and can have significant cultural and can have significant cultural and religious implications yet if we allow people not to have their yet if we allow people not to have their yet if we allow people not to have their cameras on cameras on cameras on that diminishes their representation in that diminishes their representation in that diminishes their representation in the group the group the group their apparent absence in a meeting or a their apparent absence in a meeting or a their apparent absence in a meeting or a class class class has negative effects on that group has negative effects on that group has negative effects on that group and further if people stay off camera and further if people stay off camera and further if people stay off camera for a long time for a long time for a long time they may grow to feel even more they may grow to feel even more they may grow to feel even more invisible beyond this meeting invisible beyond this meeting invisible beyond this meeting what could this world look like if every what could this world look like if every what could this world look like if every person person person felt like they belonged on this planet felt like they belonged on this planet felt like they belonged on this planet and what could life be like and what could life be like and what could life be like if everyone learned to value something if everyone learned to value something if everyone learned to value something in people that seem very different from in people that seem very different from in people that seem very different from them in my work leading professional in my work leading professional in my work leading professional development seminars i work to build a development seminars i work to build a development seminars i work to build a sense of belonging from the very sense of belonging from the very sense of belonging from the very beginning beginning beginning groups cannot collaborate effectively groups cannot collaborate effectively groups cannot collaborate effectively without building trust with one another without building trust with one another without building trust with one another first first first now if you lead seminars or meetings now if you lead seminars or meetings now if you lead seminars or meetings online demonstrate the behavior that we desire demonstrate the behavior that we desire demonstrate the behavior that we desire arrive in meetings having broken the arrive in meetings having broken the arrive in meetings having broken the trance of screens trance of screens trance of screens having moved your body and hydrated and having moved your body and hydrated and having moved your body and hydrated and fed it and arrive with the intention to fed it and arrive with the intention to fed it and arrive with the intention to move while you're on screen giving move while you're on screen giving move while you're on screen giving others permission to do the same others permission to do the same others permission to do the same also we should arrive heart forward with also we should arrive heart forward with also we should arrive heart forward with the intention to build belonging the intention to build belonging the intention to build belonging and lead activities and lead activities and lead activities so that others can do all of the above leading a culture shift towards leading a culture shift towards leading a culture shift towards belonging takes time belonging takes time belonging takes time it takes focused effort it takes focused effort it takes focused effort it takes the participation of the people it takes the participation of the people it takes the participation of the people you're working with you're working with you're working with and it takes vulnerability and and it takes vulnerability and and it takes vulnerability and leadership leadership leadership i have this stage i have this stage i have this stage and that gives me power and that gives me power and that gives me power when i lead online meetings i literally when i lead online meetings i literally when i lead online meetings i literally have the power to mute everyone have the power to mute everyone have the power to mute everyone there are consequences to this power there are consequences to this power there are consequences to this power and my very identity mutes a lot of and my very identity mutes a lot of and my very identity mutes a lot of people people people i am a white cisgender able-bodied i am a white cisgender able-bodied i am a white cisgender able-bodied educated middle-class american who lives educated middle-class american who lives educated middle-class american who lives on land stolen from indigenous peoples on land stolen from indigenous peoples on land stolen from indigenous peoples of these descriptors grants me power in of these descriptors grants me power in of these descriptors grants me power in this society this society this society power itself is not necessarily a power itself is not necessarily a power itself is not necessarily a problem problem problem but a lack of awareness of the but a lack of awareness of the but a lack of awareness of the consequences of my power consequences of my power consequences of my power is now to mitigate a bit of my power is now to mitigate a bit of my power is now to mitigate a bit of my power when i start meetings i like to begin when i start meetings i like to begin when i start meetings i like to begin with the transitions activity with the transitions activity with the transitions activity i set aside a few minutes on a timer and i set aside a few minutes on a timer and i set aside a few minutes on a timer and offer the group this invitation offer the group this invitation offer the group this invitation you may speak something that is on your you may speak something that is on your you may speak something that is on your mind mind mind you may speak a question or a thought you may speak a question or a thought you may speak a question or a thought about the work we're about to begin about the work we're about to begin about the work we're about to begin or you may sit in silence or you may sit in silence or you may sit in silence any of these options are designed to any of these options are designed to any of these options are designed to bring you to the here and now to the bring you to the here and now to the bring you to the here and now to the present moment present moment present moment this is not a conversation this is not a conversation this is not a conversation and the only responses allowed are and the only responses allowed are and the only responses allowed are non-verbal responses now when we hear what is on people's now when we hear what is on people's now when we hear what is on people's minds and in their heart minds and in their heart minds and in their heart we can see we can see we can see who needs extra patience or kindness who needs extra patience or kindness who needs extra patience or kindness today today today who may need extra space for who may need extra space for who may need extra space for strong strong strong emotions and who quite frankly may have emotions and who quite frankly may have emotions and who quite frankly may have better uses of their time today than my better uses of their time today than my better uses of their time today than my meeting the person who speaks and is listened to the person who speaks and is listened to the person who speaks and is listened to can have a very profound experience can have a very profound experience can have a very profound experience the person says that thing the person says that thing the person says that thing and they may be able to set it aside and and they may be able to set it aside and and they may be able to set it aside and take a breath and be here and be here and be here for what we're going to do for what we're going to do for what we're going to do silent witnessing is imperative silent witnessing is imperative silent witnessing is imperative if anyone leaps in to fix if anyone leaps in to fix if anyone leaps in to fix that is a power play against the that is a power play against the that is a power play against the speaker's agency by now most of us know that video by now most of us know that video by now most of us know that video meetings tend to be a giant lecture hall meetings tend to be a giant lecture hall meetings tend to be a giant lecture hall that's not a good space for that's not a good space for that's not a good space for collaboration or learning collaboration or learning collaboration or learning it's much better to interact in small it's much better to interact in small it's much better to interact in small groups around content groups around content groups around content so don't be afraid to use the tools use so don't be afraid to use the tools use so don't be afraid to use the tools use breakout rooms breakout rooms breakout rooms use the chat box strategically use the chat box strategically use the chat box strategically and add google docs or other and add google docs or other and add google docs or other collaborative applications to better collaborative applications to better collaborative applications to better frame the conversation and invite more frame the conversation and invite more frame the conversation and invite more engagement engagement engagement that engagement might even continue that engagement might even continue that engagement might even continue beyond the time frame of our meeting beyond the time frame of our meeting beyond the time frame of our meeting i really want you to get the message i really want you to get the message i really want you to get the message that small groups are important online that small groups are important online that small groups are important online in them in them in them each person is seen each person is seen each person is seen and they have a voice and they have a voice and they have a voice so when you do breakouts so when you do breakouts so when you do breakouts give very clear instructions give very clear instructions give very clear instructions set a time limit set a time limit set a time limit and give them a prompt or a question to and give them a prompt or a question to and give them a prompt or a question to talk about while they're in the talk about while they're in the talk about while they're in the breakouts also also also every time you ask a question every time you ask a question every time you ask a question allow 60 seconds of silence allow 60 seconds of silence allow 60 seconds of silence for everyone to think before anyone for everyone to think before anyone for everyone to think before anyone speaks i encourage you to send people in i encourage you to send people in i encourage you to send people in breakouts in pairs breakouts in pairs breakouts in pairs and invite them and invite them and invite them to have a walk and talk to have a walk and talk to have a walk and talk even if they are just pacing back and even if they are just pacing back and even if they are just pacing back and forth in their respective rooms forth in their respective rooms forth in their respective rooms that physical exercise breaks the trance that physical exercise breaks the trance that physical exercise breaks the trance of sitting still of sitting still of sitting still and who doesn't think better without a and who doesn't think better without a and who doesn't think better without a camera in their face when people are in breakouts it's when people are in breakouts it's when people are in breakouts it's important that they know that you are important that they know that you are important that they know that you are still responsible for them in the still responsible for them in the still responsible for them in the session so let them know in advance if session so let them know in advance if session so let them know in advance if you will ask the breakouts to report out you will ask the breakouts to report out you will ask the breakouts to report out verbally or in writing verbally or in writing verbally or in writing and then in the breakouts send them and then in the breakouts send them and then in the breakouts send them broadcast announcements to keep them on broadcast announcements to keep them on broadcast announcements to keep them on time and on track time and on track time and on track to remind them to pick a spokesperson or to remind them to pick a spokesperson or to remind them to pick a spokesperson or a scribe a scribe a scribe and to warn them before yanking them and to warn them before yanking them and to warn them before yanking them back into that giant lecture hall back into that giant lecture hall back into that giant lecture hall because that's so jarring now participants who have been in now participants who have been in now participants who have been in breakout rooms breakout rooms breakout rooms are seen are seen are seen and heard and heard and heard so they feel more belonging than in that so they feel more belonging than in that so they feel more belonging than in that giant lecture hall giant lecture hall giant lecture hall and so now we want to think about what and so now we want to think about what and so now we want to think about what the goals are of this particular the goals are of this particular the goals are of this particular gathering gathering gathering and to do that we use protocols or and to do that we use protocols or and to do that we use protocols or structured conversations there are protocols for brainstorming there are protocols for brainstorming there are protocols for brainstorming for for for looking at data looking at data looking at data for analyzing and considering dilemmas for analyzing and considering dilemmas for analyzing and considering dilemmas for for for all sorts of things nobel prize winner and ted speaker nobel prize winner and ted speaker nobel prize winner and ted speaker daniel kahneman advised us years ago to daniel kahneman advised us years ago to daniel kahneman advised us years ago to slow down our thinking for better slow down our thinking for better slow down our thinking for better results results results and structured conversations facilitate and structured conversations facilitate and structured conversations facilitate that type of engagement they also allow to they also allow to they also allow to for you to know that everyone is for you to know that everyone is for you to know that everyone is speaking in a group speaking in a group speaking in a group so i encourage you to keep track of who so i encourage you to keep track of who so i encourage you to keep track of who speaks and you can do this on paper who speaks and you can do this on paper who speaks and you can do this on paper who speaks and who has not had time to speak speaks and who has not had time to speak speaks and who has not had time to speak yet yet yet but if you use an application but if you use an application but if you use an application that application can report back very that application can report back very that application can report back very clear data after the fact clear data after the fact clear data after the fact to let you know that in this meeting to let you know that in this meeting to let you know that in this meeting bill bill bill dominated the conversation he spoke 21 dominated the conversation he spoke 21 dominated the conversation he spoke 21 percent of the time out of 13 percent of the time out of 13 percent of the time out of 13 participants and amanda and debbie participants and amanda and debbie participants and amanda and debbie barely had time to speak barely had time to speak barely had time to speak consider what you are missing from consider what you are missing from consider what you are missing from silent or silenced voices silent or silenced voices silent or silenced voices and engage with them to learn how they and engage with them to learn how they and engage with them to learn how they want to participate it's important it's important it's important to know and show to know and show to know and show that their input is valuable that their input is valuable that their input is valuable otherwise why invite them to the meeting now i like to close meetings with a now i like to close meetings with a now i like to close meetings with a survey ask a few questions that can be survey ask a few questions that can be survey ask a few questions that can be answered anonymously answered anonymously answered anonymously some favorites some favorites some favorites what worked today what worked today what worked today what didn't work so well what didn't work so well what didn't work so well what else might you like to tell me what else might you like to tell me what else might you like to tell me people can answer this anonymously or people can answer this anonymously or people can answer this anonymously or they can write their name or email they can write their name or email they can write their name or email address if they want a private response address if they want a private response address if they want a private response from me from me from me they can also draw a box or brackets they can also draw a box or brackets they can also draw a box or brackets around information they want to keep around information they want to keep around information they want to keep private just between us private just between us private just between us i read all of these i read all of these i read all of these and consider how to improve the next and consider how to improve the next and consider how to improve the next conversation that we have the next conversation that we have the next conversation that we have the next meeting meeting meeting and when we meet next and when we meet next and when we meet next i i i read out many of these comments read out many of these comments read out many of these comments keeping confidential as instructed keeping confidential as instructed keeping confidential as instructed how many times have you answered a how many times have you answered a how many times have you answered a survey that seemed to go into thin air survey that seemed to go into thin air survey that seemed to go into thin air hearing your words spoken aloud in the hearing your words spoken aloud in the hearing your words spoken aloud in the meeting meeting meeting can be very impactful can be very impactful can be very impactful and when you hear other people's voices and when you hear other people's voices and when you hear other people's voices you realize that not everybody looks and you realize that not everybody looks and you realize that not everybody looks and sounds like me sounds like me sounds like me and that is actually fundamental to good and that is actually fundamental to good and that is actually fundamental to good collaboration or learning we can connect well we can connect well we can connect well online online online it just requires some different it just requires some different it just requires some different strategies strategies strategies many of us will continue to work many of us will continue to work many of us will continue to work remotely remotely remotely but we should not have to feel remote but we should not have to feel remote but we should not have to feel remote from our colleagues our classmates we can we can we can do our work do our work do our work build our belonging build our belonging build our belonging online as well as we do it in person online as well as we do it in person online as well as we do it in person thank you [Applause]