Building rapport in hybrid meetings ensures all participants feel engaged and valued, regardless of location. - A chance to introduce themselves, creating an inclusive atmosphere. - Acknowledge and regularly check in with the remote team to ensure they feel part of the conversation. - Leverage technology to make interactions more personal and tools like chat or polls to encourage participation. - Set an engaging path to remote attendees and encourage their input. - Schedule meetings that are convenient for everyone. With intentional effort and inclusive practices, we can build strong connections in hybrid meetings that enhance collaboration and trust.

Finding the right balance between prioritizing in-person or remote participants is essential for fostering connection and productivity in hybrid meetings. It’s important to ensure neither group feels overlooked by actively engaging everyone, leveraging interactive tools, and creating equal opportunities for participation. Striking this balance remains a dynamic process that evolves with experience and feedback.

Hybrid meetings are not easy to manage , but with the right approach, you can keep both in-person and virtual participants engaged and valued. My 3 Tips: 1. Get Ready. Together: Share an agenda before the meeting and check your tech - microphones, cameras and tools need to be working well or people working remotely will feel excluded 2. Make Everyone Feel Involved: Speak directly to virtual participants, ask for their input, and keep an eye on chat messages - or have someone else in the room do so - so no one is left out 3. Be Inclusive: Avoid in-room side chats and encourage everyone to speak. You’ll have to put extra effort in with remote participants - but they’ll thank you for it. Go shine!

Engaging everyone in In-person meetings needs effort. Engaging all during remote meetings needs even more effort. If you’re up for a challenge go for hybrid meetings 🙀 The remote members are often forgotten in such a situation. Therefore, make a mental note to yourself to check with them and engage them regularly. Whatever engagement you do in your remote sessions bring them to hybrid settings. Those present with you will not mind and the remote members will appreciate it.

Here’s what I use to avoid or bridge awkward gaps: 1. Start with Small Talk: 5 minutes to chat about the weekend, pets, or even virtual backgrounds—it humanizes the screen. 2. Acknowledge Everyone: Greet remote participants first; it sets the tone. 3. Balance Air-Time: Use a “round-robin” to ensure all voices are heard. 4. Engage Actively: Use polls, whiteboards, or quick icebreakers. 5. Body Language Cues: Nod, smile, or react visibly—your screen presence matters. Hybrid meetings are the new normal. Treat every participant as present. Screens ≠ excuses.

Greet remote and in-person participants equally by name to make no one feel left out. Set an informal tone with a light question or brief personal updates, offering each participant a chance early on to be heard. Outline how participants can speak up, whether it is via a raised hand, chatting, or unmuting. Assign a moderator of the call to ensure all participants have a voice. In-person participants may rely on nonverbal cues that remote attendees miss. Summarize those moments verbally for them. Let everyone lead parts of the meeting or share updates. That evens out the dynamic and increases engagement. This can help build rapport, as well as create an atmosphere that fosters collaboration and trust.

"A bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush". Remember this saying? With a hybrid model of interaction, always ensure that you are well synchronized with the people physically present along with you at the meeting, prior to the start of the virtual one. Interact with them first, get the conversation going and set it right before switching on the camera! Once the camera is on, smile, greet, ask questions and invite questions. The initial 5 minutes should be about being the happy grandparent who wants to see the smiling faces of all his/ her grandchildren. Ask about their well being, travels, or other *specific* things you are aware of each *individual*. This can really elevate the personal touch and comfort of your audience in the meeting.