Games, trivia quizzes add human connection to online meetings in the work-from-home era

With the new reality of working from home, people are looking for ways to humanise online video meetings

The options companies have tried include breaking the ice with pre-meeting hang-out areas, and using games and trivia quizzes

Reading Time:3 minutes

Camille Schmidt is one of millions who are working online, and experiencing the evolution of online meetings. Photo: Tim Schmidt

Published: 8:45pm, 11 Aug 2020Updated: 8:45pm, 11 Aug 2020

Camille Schmidt was recently asked at a meeting to share something about herself that no one at the company knew. In the previous meeting, she needed to announce a hidden talent her colleagues weren’t aware of.

If it sounds like ‘getting to know you day’ at school, it should. The intent among leaders at Philo, a TV streaming company, is to humanise dry video meetings and make them come to life. Meetings “will never be the same as in person, but this way continues to make us a cohesive group”, says Schmidt, a communications manager for Philo.

“It’s the social hours that really connect us as a company. We have 10 new hires that have come aboard since the pandemic. And I feel like I know them, even though I’ve never met any of them in person.”

Keeping the human connection going when you’re behind a video camera is a question many of us are all grappling with during these challenging times. Whether we like it or not, we’re all being asked to learn, meet or look for new jobs via webcam.

Mark Comon opens his virtual classroom 30 minutes before the lessons start at Creative Photo Academy in Los Angeles. Photo: Creative Photo Academy

When Mark Comon had to cancel all his photo classes for his Los Angeles area camera store, Paul’s Photo, and shift them online, he had to figure out how to replicate an experience that allows for student/teacher interaction.