HBR Guide to Remote Work

CHAPTER 16

Break Up Your Brainstorming Sessions

by Liana Kreamer and Steven G. Rogelberg

Remote meetings are plagued with challenges. It’s often difficult to find a communication rhythm and flow, especially when there’s background noise or poor connection quality. As a result, people may feel detached or removed; they’ll engage less, be less present, and multitask more. Voices become lost, especially those of people who tend to be more introverted. These problems are only amplified as meeting size increases, when airtime becomes scarce and anonymity becomes the default.

To address these issues and gain valuable perspectives from all your meeting attendees, consider modifying your approach. There are two techniques in particular you can try: embracing ...