When your camera is on but your soul is not. Ten believable excuses for looking just off-screen.
10 hand-picked excuses
01
Reviewing the deck on a side monitor.
02
Following the chat as it scrolls.
03
Taking notes on a notebook to my left.
04
Reading the agenda doc; it's open in the corner.
05
Following the captions on a second window.
06
Watching the live transcript for spelling.
07
Glancing at the calendar for the next conflict.
08
Got a tab open with the meeting notes template.
09
Looking at the speaker on a second screen.
10
Mirroring my notes in the chat as we go.
Or generate one
Click below for a fresh excuse.
FAQ
What's the most credible excuse for a video meeting where you cannot meet anyone's eyes?
Reviewing the deck on a side monitor. It works because it's specific, honest about the trade-off, and short enough that nobody has follow-up questions.
Can I use the same excuse twice?
Sparingly. Pattern-match is the enemy of plausibility. Rotate from the list of 30 on this page.
Should I post a written update instead?
Almost always yes. A two-sentence async update earns more trust than showing up silent on camera.