How you can make hybrid meetings work for you

A hot hybrid working topic at the moment is around making meetings work when everyone isn’t in the same physical space. Let’s face it, it was a challenge before lockdown and it continues to be a challenge to get that balance right - to make people feel valued, included and that their voices are being heard, regardless of where they are physically in that moment.

It’s not easy, and it’s going to take some time to get it right, but ultimately it’s about arming yourself with the tools and knowledge you need to put your best foot forward. Here’s some Working Wisdom for you…

Meeting habits have changed

There’s some very useful insights about hybrid working and meeting behaviour in the latest Microsoft Trends Workplace report (March 2022). It recognises how meeting habits are now changing and that you must acknowledge that employees experience hybrid meetings differently if they are attending it virtually or in-person.

Whether you are the person running the meeting or an attendee, everyone can play a role in ensuring hybrid meetings are more inclusive by following these simple tips:

• Make sure all attendees know what tech format you are using - include this in the meeting invite
• Try to create a shared experience via video conferencing, make sure everyone can see everyone
• Open up the chat functionality to enable everyone to have a voice and ask questions
• Don’t automatically mute those who aren’t in the physical office
• When asking for feedback and questions, try not to naturally defer to those in the physical room first, go to those dialled in instead and make sure you gather everyone’s input
• At the end of the meeting, invite people to share further thoughts with you after the meeting, even a few days later. Reason being is that often those with more introverted personalities, tend to spend meetings digesting and processing? information and then often have great ideas afterwards

What else can you do?

Meetings are a fundamental part of working life and how you and your teammates collaborate, so it’s important to make sure you are constantly checking before and after meetings how they are working for everyone to ensure they are inclusive and effective in the hybrid working world.?

Do get in touch with us at Working Wonder as we’d be happy to share best practice on making hybrid working work for your organisation.?