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Do you feel obsessed with turning ON your web cameras during these video calls?
It is not just personal to see a screen with named boxes. There are reasons why you should turn ON your cameras during video meetings.

Reasons to turn ON your web cameras during video meetings.

It holds you more focused.

When your camera is off, your colleagues can’t see what you are up to. Your team members can’t see you checking social media, folding laundry, checking your child’s homework while the TV blares away in the background.
But this type of multi-tasking is not suitable for your team and yourself. Turning on your webcams makes you more focused and engaged in video meetings. It helps you to be more productive and focused on your tasks.

Creates better communication and makes you more engaged

There are chances for misinterpretations while chatting online. This is especially true when your busy teammates shortcut their messages with emojis or text lingo. You may not fully understand the idea conveyed by them and may land on the wrong conclusion.
Seeing your teams during virtual meetings can reduce misunderstandings. It encourages interaction and real communication and avoids miscommunications. Visual communications provide a feeling that your team is right away, and you can approach them for help whenever you need some.

You may find yourself involved in other duties if your camera is off. You may mute the phone and start talking with your spouse or clean your home office, although you are "video" conferencing.
So next time, turn on your cameras and make you engaged with your project responsibilities, leaving other things behind. Stay productive while you are working. It doesn’t matter how long you work in a day, but your work quality matters.

Facial expressions speak volumes.

During video meetings, when the webcams are on, you get a real-time gauge of what other people are feeling just from their facial gestures.
Virtual meetings become far more engaging and efficient when you can see and understand others’ non-verbal cues. Without nods of agreement, smiles of appreciation, and headshakes of confusion, communications can be left out unsorted.
"Video" meetings bring virtual eye-contacts, thus making better clarity and reducing misunderstandings.

Reduces the feeling of isolation

One of the significant drawbacks of remote working is that it gives a sense of isolation. There is a feeling of loneliness when you can’t meet your friends and family in-person for extended lengths of time.
Using webcams reduces this feeling of isolation. You get a feeling that there is a team of real people on the other side rather than just seeing the profile pictures or avatars during calls.
Seeing your colleagues’ faces- no matter if they are across town or in another hemisphere, generates a feeling of connection with them and makes you more comfortable.

It offers a way to add more visuals to the video meeting.

Screen sharing to convey your colleagues' specific ideas is the best way. But sometimes, you may need to have more than screen sharing. If you want to brainstorm ideas, using a whiteboard to write down, or if you’re going to show them some physical objects, you can use your webcams to convey ideas efficiently, Moreover, you can see each others’ personal belongings like kids, pets, home office, etc.
Another way to build a strong team relationship is through face-to-face communication. It must be a priority for the remote working teams as it will help demystify and address the issues, establish trust, create strong connections, etc.
A bit of social interaction helps colleagues to know each other better and a feeling of togetherness.

It motivates you to get dressed.

During our work from home days, many of you may have rolled out of bed and “gone to work” in your pajamas at least once, right?

But this routine will negatively impact our mindset and affect productivity. As humans, we all like a routine. So it’s better to get a shower, grab your cup of coffee, do your hair and get dressed as you have done before remote working days, and then kick off your day.
These simple things will help you be more productive and tackle your day with confidence; moreover, you need not worry about your looks during virtual meetings.

Final thoughts

Video meetings can do the trick.
 If you are a team lead, make a habit, and encourage your colleagues to turn on their webcams during the next virtual meetup.  
Stay productive as it will benefit both sides and have happy virtual meetings!