In short: Keep your camera on while others speak, where the meeting allows it. Show you are listening with small signals: a nod, a smile, a reaction or a raised hand. Keep your eyes on the speaker's window, placed near your camera, rather than on a second screen, because darting eyes read as distraction. If you are taking notes, say so out loud.
A speaker on camera can see faces and small gestures, and little else. Most people on a video call give the speaker very little, then wonder why the talk felt flat. Listening well on camera takes a little more effort than listening in a room, and it is a skill you can practise.
Camera on, where it is allowed
Keep your camera on while the speaker talks, if the meeting allows it. If you need to turn it off, for example to fix a poor connection, say so in the chat so the speaker does not read the blank tile as disinterest.
Show the listening
- Nod at the points you agree with. Nodding at everything makes the nod meaningless.
- Smile when something lands.
- Use the reaction buttons, or raise your hand when you have a question, rather than talking over the speaker.
- Give a thumbs up to acknowledge a point if the meeting uses them.
Where to look
Darting eyes read as distraction on camera. If you look at a second screen, a phone or your notes, the speaker sees your face turn away. Put the speaker's video window as close to your camera as you can, so your eyes land near the lens. The eye contact guide explains the same idea from the presenter's side.
Asking a question well
Use the raise-hand button or the chat rather than speaking over the speaker. Say your name first, so the host can call on you, then ask one short question. If the answer is long, let it finish before you follow up. A good question shows you listened, and a long one usually shows the speaker that you did not.
Taking notes without seeming to check out
Say out loud that you are taking notes, so the speaker knows why your eyes are down. Writing by hand is less distracting to the people around you than typing, and it stops you from scrolling away from the call. If you type, keep the sound off and your eyes on the screen as much as you can.
Mistakes to avoid
- A blank tile with the camera off for the whole talk, with no explanation.
- Typing loudly while someone is speaking.
- Checking messages, then answering a question that was asked twenty seconds ago.
- Joining from a moving car or a busy café, which makes the microphone work harder than it should.
Good audience habits pair with good meeting structure. Read the 10-minute rule for online meetings for how the host can build in the moments that give the audience something to do.
Related guides
- Presenting on Zoom and Teams: setup, light, sound
- Running a better online meeting: the 10-minute rule
- All guides and tools
The picture at the top of this page is an illustration, not a photograph of a client or a real job.
Questions we get asked
Should I keep my camera on in an online meeting?
When you are listening, yes, where the meeting allows it. A visible face is one of the few signals a speaker gets that the room is with them.
How do I look like I am listening on Zoom or Teams?
Keep the speaker's window close to your camera and look at it, nod at the points you agree with, and use the reactions or the raise-hand button rather than typing over someone who is speaking.
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