Making Zoom More Personal

SINCE THE SUDDEN ONSET OF LOCK DOWNSAND REMOTE WORK A YEAR AGO, reliance on digital platforms has grown exponentially. For example, Zoom Video Communications’ revenue in 2020 was $622.7 million, up 88 percent from the previous year. Despite the myriad benefits from videoconferencing platforms, the psychological effects of “Zoom fatigue” can be detrimental, as discussed in a study published in February by Stanford researchers in the journal Technology, Mind and Behavior, in which four main causes of exhaustion caused by teleconferencing are identified. Communications guru and consultant Susan McPherson shares how to make the most of digital conferencing platforms in the excerpt below from her new book The Lost Art of Connecting (McGraw-Hill, March). At a time when people feel so disconnected from one another, McPherson’s advice for fostering business relationships is essential.

Fran Hauser is a startup investor and advisor, funding and advising consumer-focused