How to Address Video Meeting Fatigue in Your Organization

Remote work has become more common since COVID-19 beginning in 2020. Ever since, video meetings have replaced in-person meetings, and while we see the many pros to remote work, it can come with its share of challenges, as well—such as video meeting fatigue, where those who have an abundance of video meetings can feel just as worn out as being a part of in-person meetings all day. But what are the true causes of video meeting fatigue, and how can you address it in your organization to make improvements? Interactive Digital Solutions (IDS) is here to help. As experts in video conferencing, we know how to tackle video meetings and that troublesome fatigue that can come with it.

Main Causes of Video Meeting Fatigue

As video conferencing has become more normalized in recent years, there has been more research looking into how video conferencing has affected remote workers over the last few years. According to Dimensional Research, from 2021 to 2022, time in meetings grew (56%), as well as the total number of hours worked (57%). This extra time generated increased productivity (47%) and the feeling of having more work schedule flexibility (67%). However, there are some serious negative trends as well, such as increasing personal fatigue (47%) which was a top concern cited earlier by workers. (Source: Dimensional Research)

There are quite a few reasons for this video fatigue, but all of these reasons can be drawn into two categories:

• Poor Company Culture. Poor company culture is one thing that can lead to video meeting fatigue.When there is poor company culture, employees are much more likely to have burnout from too many video meetings. Having too many meetings can also cause more hours worked each day.When you are in meetings all day, but still need to get your work done, you’re having to work more hours. This increases personal fatigue, as well.

• Poor Technology. Poor technology is a huge culprit when it comes to video meeting fatigue. Things like poor sound, bad video quality, and background noise can cause huge frustrations in video meetings, and therefore not only cause meetings to go on longer, but can increase personal fatigue simply from the frustration of being unable to hear or see your meeting partners.

Despite these issues causing video fatigue, there are ways to improve it. Let’s take a look at how.

How to Improve Video Fatigue

Now that we’ve seen the culprits behind video meeting fatigue, we can now look at addressing it.

According to those same studies done by Dimensional Research, the top 3 suggestions [to improve company culture in relation to improving meeting fatigue] include adjustments to meeting culture including reducing back-to-back meetings (42%), five-minute buffer between meetings (33%), and meeting-free days (27%). (Source: Dimensional Research)

All of these advancements would help improve video meeting fatigue. Reducing back-to-back meetings will give employees mental breaks in between said meetings, as well as buffers between meetings. Scheduling meeting-free days would also help improve video meeting fatigue, so that employees can plan out their week more efficiently and get those sorely needed days of rest from video meetings.

Other recommendations [to improve meeting fatigue] fall into better meeting technology: the ability to stand up and move around (37%), removing unwanted background noise (24%), non-verbal participation such as chat, gestures, or polls (24%), virtual back- grounds (22%), better camera locations and improved microphones (19%), hand-off meetings between devices (18%), and, lastly, the ability to personalize their video meeting solution. (Source: Dimensional Research)

Some underestimate the power of good technology: when your computer works; when you can hear everyone clearly; when your screen is not freezing every few minutes; when you can actually see the persons you are speaking to. All of these things affect video meeting fatigue. Here at IDS, as video conferencing solutions experts, we take video meeting fatigue into account very seriously. Let’s take a look now at how IDS can help reduce video fatigue in your organization.

How IDS Can Help

IDS brings over 20 years of design, deployment, support, and data analytics to AV and video communication systems across all industries. We work with leading technology providers to create complete end-to-end technology and platform solutions. Our best-in-class technology can help your organization avoid video meeting fatigue. Partner with IDS and see how.

• Design. Every project is different with its own challenges, which is why we work with each customer to understand the overall goals of their projects. We customize designs to accommodate unique spaces, oddly shaped conference rooms, natural or artificial lighting, multipurpose rooms, and anything else that may come up along the way. Our team has seen it all and can confidently meet the needs of your new space.

• Build. We implement each project with best-in-class technologies that are future-proof so that you get the maximum uptime and longevity of your investment. Our design team considers the purpose of each room and its users to provide options that may not have been considered before, like using discreet ceiling speakers and microphones to avoid distracting tabletop units. Small details like this throughout the build process helps to ensure that you’re delighted with the results.

• Support. IDS offers telehealth help desk support around the clock. Our team is familiar with every major telehealth hardware and software provider in the industry, and we can trouble-shoot nearly any issue. No matter what the problem is, what time of day it is, or which vendor your facility relies on, IDS can help. Our support line goes above and beyond what individual vendors can offer.

If you’re ready to learn more, visit our Contact Us page now.