This is a big video call for you.
You’ve worked really hard on this project and you desperately need approval/sign off/someone to understand.
But your attempts at holding attention are consistently being thwarted by colleagues showing everyone the latest cute thing their dog/kid/partner did.
Interruptions happen in offline conversations all the time but I think they happen more so on video calls. As everyone is in a different setting and more prone to distraction.
I think cute personal displays have a short lifespan on business calls.
I think they are perfect for the initial few moments, during small talk, before any serious discussion has started. But I think once people start talking shop the cute interruptions need to stop, otherwise it’s very rude to the speaker and it completely derails the conversation.
In fact I would go one further to say any unrelated interruptions are very rude in any conversation.
They’re not going to speak forever, let them have their turn.
Thomas Duggan 