First read my initial post then
Respond to the two discussion post below.
You will also find first the directions oh how to respond and then my post to read.
Post substantive responses to your colleagues. Responses could include suggestions for further resources, questions of clarification, or providing context and insight. Avoid simple posts of agreement, if you agree, explain why, and then thoughtfully further the conversation.
1. How did the body language change the conversation?
2. How could the cultural differences be addressed?
Response 1. Hi all,
Happy week 2! During a recent team meeting held via zoom which is a standing monthly meeting, I noticed that the same person, which I will call “C” is always multi-tasking or playing with her dog. First thought, is that it is a bit distracting to see her move all over the camera. Sitting and standing, walking away. When called on, she almost seems irritated based on her facial expressions and body language. A bit surprising since she is at a director level and should be leading by example. Meetings tend to be longer when those that are disengaged need to revisit the topic of discussion and it is time wasted for those that are fully engaged. Another negative dynamic, is that it leads to demotivated or inclined for other team members participation (leading by example). Action items post meeting are not followed through with when this person is disengaged, because assume she probably did not hear that she was tasked with an action item.
My company works with quite a few vendors in the UK, so I will use the culture in the UK as an example of cultural differences. The UK has a strong culture of politeness and indirect communication. If someone is disengaged, they might not openly express their disinterest or dissatisfaction. They may use subtle cues that can be easily missed or misinterpreted, such as minimal verbal contributions or subdued body language. By being aware of these cultural factors and proactively addressing them, you can improve engagement, participation, and the overall effectiveness of your team Zoom meetings in a UK context.
Reference
Amin Al-Habaibeh, Matthew Watkins, Kafel Waried, Maryam Bathaei Javareshk, Challenges and opportunities of remotely working from home during Covid-19 pandemic, Global Transitions,Volume 3,2021,Pages 99-108,ISSN 2589-7918, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2021.11.001.
Response 2. Hi, Tiffany, and thank you for your initial post. I have a comment and then a quick question for you and everyone in the class. At the end of his TED talk, former FBI agent Joe Navarro said “When you leave here, you’re going to have choices. You always have choices; you have free agency. And one of the things you should think about is, ‘How do I change my non-verbals? How do I become that person of influence?’ Because if there’s one thing we need in this world, it’s truly to be more empathetic. And so, when I see this (he shows a photo of an infant’s entire hand holding on tightly to the finger of a parent) it says it all. That’s why we use nonverbals, because they’re powerful.”
As you think about that statement and then think of your own life and how you communicate with nonverbals, where do you feel you could change, improve, or enhance your nonverbals? Which nonverbals would they be? What would your desired outcome(s) be for making this modification? Thank you again for your post and I look forward to your response!
My initial post
Hi everyone happy week 2.
I participated in an online meeting and a team collaboration session to deliberate on the launch of a new software product and its marketing strategies. In this virtual setting, the form of communication entirely based on video conferencing was one of the aspects that led to the disengaged body language of one of the participants. M, the name I will use to refer to this person, was indifferent during the meeting. One of the main indicators was the long breaks when the M camera was off, making evaluating their involvement or interest in the discussiondifficult for the others. The lack of visual components in communication raises the perception of disconnection. Furthermore, even when M’s camera was on, his body language was indifferent and unfocused. His eyes were constantly wandering off the screen, so he failed to maintain eye contact with the camera – in other words, he lacked concentration. This behavior was particularly adverse in the virtual setting because visual cues were few, and active engagement was required for productive collaboration (Assaf et al., 2024).
Cultural Differences and Disengaged Body Language
The cultural aspect might have caused the misunderstanding of M’s disengaged body language in the virtual meeting. In some cultures, non-verbal cues and communication styles may be highly divergent from the Western business norm. For instance, in Asian cultures, eye contact during discussions is viewed as rude or hostile (Maroño 2023). This implies that M’s camera avoidance may be a cultural custom rather than a sign of detachment. In addition, the level of active verbal engagement needed may vary from culture to culture. In some situations, silence or passivity might not be a direct proof of detachment but a sign of respect towards the authorities or a more reserved communication style (Akechi et al., 2013). M’s prolonged silences could have been cultural standards.
