Remote team book club debates are now just silent Zoom calls

Our work book club used to be fun when we met in person. Now with remote work, we do it on video calls. But nobody really debates anymore. Last time, we picked a book about teamwork, and when I brought up a point, everyone just stared at their screens. I think they were working on other stuff. It's frustrating because I want to talk about books, not sit in another meeting. We should maybe use chat more, but it's not the same. I'm starting to skip these sessions.

4 comments

4 Comments

emeryj662mo ago

My old bowling league tried a debate night over Zoom last year and it had the same dead feeling. The problem isn't the video, it's that you can't read the room or feel when someone is about to jump in. That little pause on a call kills the energy. Maybe the book club needs a rule where only one person talks at a time and everyone else has to keep their video on full screen, no other windows open. It sounds strict but the casual multi-tasking is what killed your discussion.

joelmoore3mo ago

My cousin's online game group tried using video clips to plan sessions instead of talking live. They thought it would save time and let everyone share ideas without interrupting. But people just posted random clips at different times, and no one watched them all the way through. The whole thing fell apart because there was no real talk, just a bunch of videos that didn't link up. It felt like another chore instead of fun group time. Maybe some groups need that live back-and-forth to stay engaged.

the_sam3mo ago

Record quick video takes before the call to kick off debate.

stone.river3mo ago

Heard a podcast episode about how video notes before meetings actually help people organize their thoughts better. Might help avoid rambling during the debate itself lol.