Zoom Speaking Order

Do you second-guess before speaking up in a Zoom meeting? Do extended silences make things super awkward?

Speaking out of turn or talking over someone is common in Zoom meetings, as is the awkward silence when everyone waits to see who will speak first. The other day, I was in a virtual meeting where everyone wanted to participate, but it was hard to tell who should go next. This got me thinking...

What If… Zoom allowed the host to set a speaking order?

From one perspective, this feature could provide valuable structure to the meeting, reducing long silences and awkward interruptions (no, no, you go first, etc.). It may even encourage people to speak up if they know when it’s their turn.

The only drawback is that if the host sets the order, it might lead to perceptions of favoritism among colleagues.

What do you think? Would you like to see this on Zoom?

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