Have you been compelled to go to online meetings (and/or classes) by your institution’s coronavirus responses? Or perhaps your city’s or state’s restrictions? If so, think about this: almost everyone in these circumstances is likely to be in crisis and/or survival mode. That’s a setup for tough, less productive, and potentially divisive and harmful meetings.
You’ve probably seen the pieces (for example, this or this) about ways our relationships with spouse, children, etc. reflect stress when we’re compelled to be together for extended periods of time. Trying to engage in different work activities in the same space adds even more tension. Both you and your colleagues may be experiencing some version of this.
In addition, all of you are likely in the process of taking a life that already had more in it than would comfortably fit, and shoving into a smaller, narrower space.
First things first: start with compassion
Almost every bit of this is challenging. Therefore, as you approach your fancy new virtual meetings, build cohesion and capacity by starting here:
- Make compassion your first intent and foundational norm.
- Be flexible in your expectations regarding what can be accomplished, especially as you get your bearings in your first few meetings.
- Notice when you are on edge, and find a way to give yourself a break (or whatever you need) so you can get back to item 1.
Related resources:
- Flower Darby writes about about recovering the joy of teaching after going online, relating similar principles to the teaching experience.
- These two pieces look at how a pandemic might, just possibly, affect productivity (faculty, student, and staff!):
Additional Virtual Meeting Resources
- Example Zoom protocols. A Word doc with a walk through considerations around meeting/session setup, along with checklists.
- Zoom resource page. Resources for participating in Zoom meetings.
