Your team is split between virtual and in-person meetings. How do you ensure everyone stays equally engaged?

One of the easiest ways to achieve hybrid harmony is to ensure everyone, both in person and online, has their computer open and camera on. It may feel like forced engagement, but that's part of building culture at work. You want a unified experience, and if your team is going to get the benefit of hybrid work, there will always be a cost associated with it.

In a hybrid work environment, fostering equality for remote and in-person team members is crucial. Implement practices like rotating meeting times to suit various time zones and ensure all materials are shared digitally. Utilize tools like video conferencing with screen sharing and virtual whiteboards to bridge the gap between physical and digital spaces. Making everyone feel included and valued, whether you’re in the office or working from home. This approach not only enhances teamwork but also keeps everyone engaged and connected.

Balancing virtual and in-person meetings requires thoughtful strategies to ensure everyone stays connected. For instance, integrate digital tools such as live polls or interactive Q&A sessions to gather real-time input from remote team members. Appoint a liaison to bridge the gap between onsite and remote participants, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard. Encourage the use of collaborative platforms where individuals can share ideas or ask questions. This approach promotes engagement and ensures that all team members, regardless of location, can actively contribute and stay involved.

We are in the new normal world of balancing virtual and in-person meetings and with the exception of some industries, this is here to stay. It is so important to keep our virtual colleagues engaged - working remotely can be a lonely experience, especially if the majority of team members are predominantly meeting face-to-face. I always aim to start the virtual meetings a little early and engage everyone joining online in a chat-chat before the more formal part of the meeting starts. Doing some ice-breakers is great too, there are so many to choose from and you might have some specific ones that you know your team would really like. Encourage the use of the chat functionality throughout the meeting and ask for feedback after each agenda item.

Using technology that ensures connectivity and keeps work flow visible can help decrease miscommunication and ensure the team feel supported and aligned. Stand ups, weekly team WIPS, updating tasks on online project management tools can support this type of work arrangement. It would also be great to understand what type of communciation style your team prefer to ensure you're being inclusive with your team comms.

To keep your team equally engaged in both virtual and in-person meetings, invite members to contribute agenda items, giving them ownership in your meetings and the opportunity to seek feedback. This fosters a sense of responsibility and ensures all voices are heard. Encourage screen sharing to maintain the flow of conversation and to ensure everyone is looped in. These practices not only create balanced interactions but also build trust and collaboration across the team.