In the middle of a busy day between fielding phone calls and replying to queries, you get a message from your line manager. You open it as you should and the message reads “Can we have a team meeting in 20 minutes, with camera on please.”
Annoying right? It’s hard to say as everyone has their own preferred method of meeting and communicating with one another. Some people prefer an email, some enjoy seeing everyone’s faces and hearing from them while others like quick zoom meetings with no camera (myself).
Even in the boomer team, we have differing opinions over meeting styles. The two most popular are phone calls and team meetings via Zoom/Google with video on. There are exceptions with some of us preferring different kinds of meetings at different times of the day. “If I’m still in Jammies then zoom off, but normal I like zoom on” as pointed out by senior global creative head-hunter new and our new boomer, Jacqui Loudon.
With all the above in mind, The Talent Boom decided to investigate this further and put together a LinkedIn poll.
Study:
The LinkedIn poll went live on the 9th August and was open for a week. The title of the poll was ‘What type of meeting do you prefer?’
Method:
The poll is a closed ended questionnaire where respondents can only answer 1 out of 4 responses to a question. This study makes use of random sampling. Respondents may also leave comments pertaining to the study in the comment section.
The sample size was 194 respondents.
Limitations
Because our sampling is random, our findings cannot accurately reflect the views held by the general public. We’re also making use of a LinkedIn poll, which means that our responses are limited to LinkedIn users and within those LinkedIn users, we are limited to those who willingly participate in the study.
Findings:
The responses vary slightly. Please see the responses below:
Zoom (with video on) 20%
Teams (with video on) 34%
Zoom/ Teams etc. with video off 36%
Just a phone call or other 10%
Discussion
1. Zoom (with video on): 20%
Approximately 20% of the respondents prefer using Zoom with video turned on. This suggests that a segment of users values face-to-face interaction and visual cues during communication. This could be due to the ability to read body language and non-verbal cues, which can enhance the effectiveness of communication
2. Teams (with video on): 34%
A larger proportion, around 34%, indicated a preference for using Microsoft Teams with video enabled. This might be indicative of a certain comfort level with Teams’ features and integration within the Microsoft ecosystem. The higher percentage could also reflect the growing popularity of Teams in professional settings.
3. Zoom/Teams etc. with video off: 36%
Interestingly, a significant 36% of respondents prefer using platforms like Zoom or Teams, but with the video turned off. This suggests that a considerable portion of users values the convenience of these platforms for voice communication without necessarily needing the visual component. This could be due to various factors, such as network bandwidth concerns or personal preferences.
4. Just a phone call or other: 10%
About 10% of respondents indicated a preference for more traditional communication methods, such as a simple phone call or alternative means. This could stem from a preference for simpler, less technology-dependent modes of communication or specific situations where these methods are more appropriate.
Conclusion:
The findings indicate a diverse range of preferences when it comes to communication platforms and their associated features. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, as users’ choices seem to be influenced by factors such as comfort with technology, the nature of the communication, and personal preferences. While a notable proportion still values face-to-face interaction (with video on), the high percentage of users favouring platforms with video off suggests that convenience and ease of communication are also significant factors.
This diversity underscores the importance of offering a variety of communication options to cater to different user needs and situations. Organizations and individuals should consider these preferences when selecting communication tools and strategies to ensure effective and efficient communication in various contexts.