Finding it hard to tap into your creativity? Using Zoom for your brainstorming sessions could be to blame, according to new research by Melanie Brucks, an Applied Psychology Professor at Columbia University Business School. The study found that on Zoom, or any virtual platform, it is hard to be creative because you are paying too much visual attention to the faces on the screen. In previous studies, scientists have identified that more than 50% of the brain cortex is devoted to processing visual information. That explains why focusing on the other participants diminishes your brain’s ability to focus on creative thinking.
But virtual platforms are superior to in-person meetings for other kinds of meetings. For instance, only on a virtual platform can you look closely at the person talking without being rude. This makes it ideal for reading their facial and body language from the shoulders up. That’s a major advantage if you understand what their expressions mean because you can tap into what the person is really thinking and feeling, even if they aren’t saying it out loud.
Being able to read facial expressions and body language can make all the difference during sales meetings, interviews or negotiations. That’s when Zoom and other virtual platforms are the best choice. Readers of my new book, Read the Zoom are excited about the insights they’ve gained within the first week. It’s the only body language book with more than 100 photos, so you can look and learn quickly. Want a sneak peek? See sample pages from the book HERE.