I’m at a new agency and there are a couple of things about the culture I’m really struggling with. 1) Nobody has cameras on. Ever. I understand not having them on occasionally. But this is the norm1 large and small meetings. 2) No small talk. I understand we are all busy but there’s absolutely no “how was your weekend” discussion. What can I do about this? I’ve been at two agencies and never experienced this. I know I can’t ask people to turn on cameras but I try and set an example myself.
Chief
Sounds like my dream agency. You guys hiring?
That is really tough. I don’t have a good answer for you, but encourage you to be you, and maybe treat it like an experiment with mini challenges like can you influence 3 people to put their cameras on; this environment would make me feel like everything is fake/unreal. I really feel for you OP. Wish I had a better answer.
there could be some subtext at play. do you insist on cameras on just to make sure everyone is engaged and managed? Might be a chronic burnout, disengagement. that said, I don't think you should take it so personally. When you are in person, people aren't staring at your face the whole time. People are over looking at themselves and being analyzed.
Sounds like heaven to me, actually.
People leaving their cameras off is sometimes a sign of burnout
You’re an associate director, set the tone in smaller meetings with your team and absolutely ask for camera on. Just make sure you give them a heads up in advance so they aren’t naked or using a pore cleaning mask 😂
This is where you learn the difference between being an individual contributor and leading a team.
I joined a new team and the vibe was the same. So I asked them to turn on camera for our small meetings and small talk followed, relationships grew. It’s still a struggle in larger meetings but I’m not everyone’s manager.
Sounds like Leo
Sounds like Ogilvy
I'm okay with small talk but I almost always have my camera off. I live in a studio apartment and work around my wife and find the only place I can get some privacy is doing meetings in our not well lit closet.
It helps that most people have their cameras off too but that's my reason for it. It might be more than just not wanting to be on camera.
I work with a team that behaves in the same way and I think it’s terrible for the long term working relationship. Just disembodied voices barking information at each other through the ether. If taking time to connect isn’t a priority on most calls at your agency, try to carve out a regular time and place where there is time dedicated to it.
It IS a creative agency and I’ve historically been at media agencies. Perhaps it’s just the creative agency vibe?
Sounds like my kind of agency 😅
Chief
Seems more about you than them if they aren't abusing you or being passive aggressive with their cameras.
Sounds like Spark
Love this tbh
I don’t think this is something to worry about. Once you get to know the people better, I’m sure you can just ask them about this.