Hybrid or Lo-brid?

Warning: When someone tells you they can run a successful ‘hybrid’ workshop with some people attending in person, and some remotely, it may make you want to cry with relief...?but it’s going to need some very special handling.

If we could choose, we’d counsel you to avoid?hybrid?meetings and workshops, as they’re often neither one thing nor another - which means they become?the worst of both worlds for most?people.

But if they can’t be avoided, read on for insight, stimulus and ways to make your?hybrid?meetings fly higher than a pug crossed with a tawny owl!

Avoid Lo-brid - think ‘combination’ instead

The use of the word ‘hybrid’ to describe vehicles, working patterns and now meetings means it’s taking some abuse and being bent a little out of shape. Describing a meeting as?hybrid?may suggest that its elements will work perfectly together - but this is not necessarily the case.

Hybrid?(n):?a mixture of two very different things that blends the properties of each together.?e.g. His work is an interesting?hybrid?of popular and classical music.

Lo-brid (n): the feeling of discombobulation that results when a meeting of in-person and virtual attendees is badly managed. e.g. The lo-brid workshop felt like an excruciating in-body-out-of-body experience for attendees

At The Business Speakeasy, we prefer to think about meetings with both in-person and remote attendees as ‘combination’ meetings - bringing together two elements which each need to be considered.

To achieve a successful combination meeting, you need to design a journey for each audience - because designing for just one is sure to create a poor experience for the other.

Combination (n):?a mixture of two very different things that retains the unique properties of each.

e.g. The experience created for both the in-person and virtual attendees was a winning combination?

Hybrid?Happiness Tips

Once you’ve considered the journey of your meeting from the perspective of both types of participant, give some thought to the cross-over points - the places in which they’ll be sharing the experience. Here are our top tips to ensure a positive experience for all:

• Avoid unequal presence: be strict about equality of meeting real-estate. Best practice is to ensure everyone in the physical meeting has their own device so that all attendees have an equal on-screen presence. If you really can’t avoid having some people in-person and some on a screen, make sure in-person attendees face toward the screen to keep the energy balanced.

• Head off the clash: spend time upfront acknowledging everyone’s presence and as often as possible ensure everybody gets their voice into the room - try a round of introductions or an opening thought from everyone on the meeting topic, in chat if there are too many attendees to hear from individually. Tools like?mentimeter?are great for ensuring full group interaction.

• Remote goes first: if you’re presenting from the meeting room make a point of looking at the people in the room and also towards the cameras. Ensure everyone feels included by putting the remote attendees’ needs first - for example when you pause to ask for questions, prompt for questions from the virtual attendees first, and then from the room.?

Hybrid?environments are challenging. Unless you’re on top of your communication game in the remote sphere and the in-person, you’re going to find it hard to maintain attention and engagement in a?hybrid?situation…?

Our Communication Superpowers Advantage training is designed to boost impact in any setting. If you want to elevate your ability to contribute with confidence in meetings, lead group discussions, master the art of presenting to an audience and develop your own authentic communication style, click here to find out more.

In just four weeks on this training 100% of learners gain increased presentation confidence and learn communication skills they tell us are very valuable and game-changing.

Apply now to join?a mixed-business open programme this?June or July.?

Ask ChatGPT

USER: ChatGPT, can you write me some haikus on the pain and pleasure of?hybrid?meetings?

ChatGPT: Certainly! Here are two haikus on the pain and pleasure of?hybrid?meetings.

USER: I love your haikus!

ChatGPT: Thanks.

Love from

Liz, Matt and The Business Speakeasy Team