Should you require video to be turned on during team meetings?

To Alison Green
on November 6, 2024

A reader writes:

I manage a team of 15 people who meet on Zoom once a week. While they work independently most of the time, there are large projects where everyone needs to be on the same page, and during these meetings we get updates.

I’ve noticed that people who turn off video (and I know they’re tuned in to video because it will be on at the beginning of the meeting) often end up reaching out to me to ask the questions we covered in the meeting section. Sometimes they contact you within a few hours, sometimes after a few days. I’m starting to think that those with video muted are leaving the area, muting the team, or just tuning out completely. Can I require them to leave the video on? Do you think this will help?

I’m answering that question—and two others—today on Inc., where I’m revisiting letters that were buried in the archives here years ago (and occasionally updating/expanding my answers to them). You you can read it here.