This only applies when discussing difficult topics. Performance Review? Probably on camera. Meeting about upcoming sprint work, probably not. The severity of the meeting agenda dictates I think. I also agree that turning off self-view helps a lot. Being “on camera” is awkward for people not used to it. I’m going to draw the line at “but how will I know what your expression is”? Easy, I’ll tell you. I’ll use my words to effectively communicate. Emotionless, without expression. Having my camera on won’t change that. Staring at my avatar face is about the same expression you are going to get live. Slight courtesy smile and that’s it. I won’t get angry, upset, loose my temper, scowl while others are talking, raise eyebrows, or other facial expressions that communicate in a way that requires sequencing imaging technology. Not everyone is photogenic. Not everyone is put together at 8am for your all-hands. Some of us live alone and have to juggle your meeting with doing dishes, or the dog, or getting that last git commit in before deployment. You can’t see body language on camera other than facial expressions. Facial expressions aren’t a great way to communicate on this medium.

So I challenge your notion that we are more than just the words we use. I would say we are entirely the words we use. A lack of vocabulary or mispronouncing words but a good facial expression or body language isn’t going to go very far with me. Effective communication requires words, more than anything. Entire businesses are run via email.