HBR Guide to Remote Work

CHAPTER 18

Stop Zoning Out in Zoom Meetings

by Sarah Gershman

You join a videoconference call. You’re one of nine faces on the screen. About 10 minutes in, your mind starts to wander and you realize you have no idea what the last person just said. You pretend to keep listening while also checking your inbox. By the end of the meeting, you’ve caught up on some email but ultimately feel like it was another waste of time. For many of us, this scenario sounds all too familiar.

There is a lot of sound advice about how leaders can run more effective virtual meetings. While this advice is critical, what is often overlooked is the role that listeners play in ensuring a meeting’s success.

In 1913, Max Ringelmann, a French architectural engineer, made ...