2020 and 2021 were two years rife with changes and challenges.
Remote working evolved from a futuristic concept into the standard strategy for most businesses. Our in-person meetings and daily chats became video calls and instant messaging.
Collaboration tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack took over the world in the age of the pandemic, promising a convenient way for teams to stay connected.
On the one hand, the tools meant that staff members could stay productive wherever they were – even outside of the office. Video meetings kept us interacting face-to-face, and cloud-based tools connected teams.
On the other hand, the constant influx of never-ending meetings ignited a new challenge: collaboration fatigue.
38% of workers in a 2020 study said that they experienced video fatigue since the start of the pandemic. Another 24% confirmed that they find virtual meetings overwhelming, exhausting, and inefficient.
So, how do we combat this issue?
Managing the Collaboration Drain
Some parts of the virtual collaboration experience are more exhausting than others.
Video, for instance, requires us to give more attention to our screens and track a larger number of factors. Unlike in a standard meeting when you can make notes without worrying that everyone in the room is watching you, you’re constantly on high alert in a video call.
Simultaneously, you’re trying to keep track of everyone else’s video feeds, the presentation from the person hosting the meeting, and anything else that’s happening on your screen.