People, Not Pixels

Video calls have turned us all into postage stamps floating in a Brady Bunch grid.

Too often, we forget there’s a breathing, coffee-sipping, dog-hair-covered human on the other side.

We treat them like disembodied talking heads. Which is why calls feel draining. Which is why everyone turns their camera off. Which is why the soul leaks out of the workday like a slow tire.

So here’s the medicine: treat them like humans.

Start sideways. Instead of diving straight into agenda bullets, ask about the art hanging behind them, the book on their shelf, or why their cat is glaring at you through the screen. It cracks the digital shell.
Eyes, not screens. Every once in a while, look directly at the camera. It’s weirdly intimate. It says: “I see you.” Even if you don’t.
Interrupt the monotony. Share a story. Hold up a doodle. Show the donut you’re about to eat. Something—anything—that reminds everyone we’re not just input/output machines.
End with gratitude. Not “thanks for your time,” but “thanks for helping me untangle this” or “I’m glad you’re the one working on this with me.” Real appreciation lands harder.

The trick isn’t technology. It’s remembering that the person on your screen has a heartbeat, a favorite snack, and a history you know nothing about.

Stay Positive & Talk To That