Zoom Doom

There’s always one. The late arrival with their mic on, crashing into the call mid-sentence while asking, “Can you hear me?” The person eating cereal on camera, or the mystery participant whose name is “iPad (3)” and hasn’t said a word in 45 minutes. The well-meaning multitasker, nodding earnestly while typing furiously on another screen. Or the over-sharer who doesn’t know when to stop. You ask them to briefly update, but they deliver an epic saga instead. Complete with disclaimers, excuses, and a subplot or two. Or the presenter who powers through a 32-slide deck without checking if anyone’s still with them … or even awake.  Finally, when the clock ticks past the hour, the meeting chair shows indecision: “So… um… I think that’s everything… unless anyone has anything else?” Awkward goodbyes later, we’re still there.

If any of these sounds familiar, you’ve lived through Zoom Doom.

Working in organisational culture change, I experience many online meetings. They were once the future of work; now, they’re simply how we work. But while we’ve got the tools sorted, we’ve been slower in upgrading our behaviours. The novelty has worn off. What’s needed now is a collective shift towards more conscious participation.

Because the problem isn’t the platform - it’s us. Or more precisely, the unconscious habits we’ve dragged into this digital space. In person, we wouldn’t scroll our phones under the table or let our eyes drift blankly while someone spoke. Or work on a Gantt chart. But somehow, the screen invites a kind of disengaged anonymity.

So, how do we reverse the Zoom Doom?

Start by showing up mentally, not just digitally. That little green light might say “online,” but attention is the real currency. Commit to being present, just as you would in a room with colleagues.

Next, use video with intention. You don’t always have to be camera-on, but facial expressions matter when relationship-building or decision-making is involved. A little eye contact (even through a lens) goes a long way. You don’t need a curated bookshelf or a designer lamp: just a clear face, decent lighting, and a willingness to connect.

Mute discipline is also underrated. Keep it on when listening, turn it off when speaking. It’s the new version of not interrupting and spares everyone from unexpected soundtracks.

If you’re hosting, have an agenda, stick to time, and be clear about when things end. The best meetings feel shorter than they are because they move with rhythm and purpose. Technology won’t chair the meeting for you; that’s a skill humans can still do better. The opposite of Zoom Doom isn’t perfect tech; it’s better habits.