With vacation season in full swing, the likelihood of hybrid meetings increases. This week, Dr. Joe Allen, co-author of “Suddenly Virtual” and “Suddenly Hybrid,” joins Karin Reed to share expert advice to help you make these hybrid meetings successful and productive.
Dr. Allen introduces his latest research on meeting participation, identifying five types: full participation, non-participation, pretending to participate, token legitimacy, and on-off participation. This typology helps understand the varied ways individuals engage in meetings, especially in hybrid settings. His findings reveal that hybrid meetings can be as satisfying, if not more so, than other formats, thanks to the consistent application of best practices.
Key pre-meeting considerations include ensuring strong connectivity and high-quality audio and video for all participants. Karin highlights the importance of meeting equity, ensuring all participants, whether in-room or remote, can be seen and heard clearly. Dr. Allen recommends using advanced tools like the Owl camera to enhance visibility and interaction.
During meetings, it’s crucial to avoid neglecting remote participants. Dr. Allen suggests assigning in-room allies to include virtual attendees in the conversation. Post-meeting, clear communication of decisions and assignments is essential, along with gathering feedback to improve future meetings. He underscores the significant cost of ineffective meetings, both in direct expenses and opportunity costs.
This episode of Speaker Dynamics offers a key takeaway: don’t fear hybrid meetings. By following best practices and leveraging available resources, hybrid meetings can be highly effective.
