Social Facilitation in the Modern Workplace: Why Open Offices and Zoom Calls Make You Feel Watched

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👀 Feeling Watched? Why Open Offices and Zoom Calls Trigger Performance Pressure

Ever felt your brain freeze the moment someone walks by your desk—or when your camera turns on during a Zoom meeting? You’re not imagining it. What you’re experiencing is a psychological phenomenon called Social Facilitation, first studied by psychologist Robert Zajonc in the 1960s.

Zajonc found that the mere presence of others can enhance performance on simple tasks—but hinder it on complex or unfamiliar ones. In other words, being watched can either sharpen your focus or unravel your confidence.

Fast forward to today’s workplace, and this theory is more relevant than ever.

🏢 Open-Plan Offices: Productivity or Pressure Cooker?

Open-plan offices were designed to foster collaboration and transparency. But for many, they’ve become a stage—where every move feels scrutinized, every pause judged.

Constant visibility creates a low-grade anxiety that’s hard to shake.
Noise and interruptions make deep work nearly impossible.
Lack of privacy amplifies self-consciousness, especially during high-stakes tasks.

Zajonc’s theory helps explain why: when others are around, we instinctively shift into performance mode. That can be motivating—or mentally exhausting.

💻 Zoom Calls: The New Digital Spotlight

Remote work promised relief from office distractions. But Zoom calls introduced a new kind of pressure: the virtual gaze. Even when muted, even when off-camera, the awareness of being observed can trigger performance anxiety.

Camera-on culture forces constant self-monitoring.
Gallery view mimics a digital audience, heightening stress.
Delayed feedback and awkward silences increase cognitive load.

It’s not just about being seen—it’s about being perceived. And that perception shapes how we show up, speak up, and perform.

🧠 Emotional Intelligence: The Key to Managing Visibility

So how do we navigate this invisible pressure without burning out? Emotional intelligence offers a path forward.

Self-awareness: Recognize when visibility is helping—or hurting—your performance.
Empathy: Understand that others may be struggling too. Normalize vulnerability.
Boundaries: Advocate for camera breaks, quiet zones, and asynchronous communication.
Supportive leadership: Managers who model authenticity and flexibility reduce fear and foster trust.

🌱 Final Thoughts on Social Facilitation: Visibility Shouldn’t Equal Vulnerability

Zajonc’s Social Facilitation theory reminds us that humans are deeply social—and deeply sensitive to being watched. In today’s hyper-visible work environments, we must balance transparency with compassion.

Because performance thrives not under pressure, but under psychological safety.

Let’s build workplaces—virtual and physical—where being seen doesn’t mean being judged, and where showing up doesn’t require masking who we are.

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Steven Lucas MBACP PNCPS (Accred) is a professional counselling psychotherapist working in Northamptonshire. Read Full Bio.

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Disclaimer:

I am not a doctor so this guide should not be considered a replacement for seeking medical advice. It is also not a substitute for obtaining therapy as other factors, such as trauma, need to be considered.

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