Suddenly Hybrid

Chapter 7Potential Pitfalls When Leading a Hybrid Meeting

Knowing what to do is just as important as knowing what not to do when leading a hybrid meeting. Given the fact that this meeting format is new to the majority of organizations, the likelihood of missteps is high. In this chapter, we aim to highlight some of the typical pitfalls leaders are likely to stumble into unless they are looking for them. The hope is that by raising awareness, we can help leaders steer clear of these pitfalls or course‐correct if necessary.

Meeting effectiveness is always a moving target, however, and that's why it is valuable to frequently evaluate how your hybrid meetings measure up. We'll wrap up this chapter with a feedback template that we recommend meeting leaders adopt as either a self‐ or group reflection exercise.

In this chapter, we will explore:

• The danger of falling back into bad habits
• The memory lapse about what it's like to work remotely
• The communication gaps that could widen based on in‐person versus remote attendance
• The overreliance on larger meetings and how that may further isolate remote workers
• The importance of the post‐meeting postmortem

The Leader as Tour Guide

If you've ever taken a tour of a museum, historic site, or new locale, you know the impact an excellent tour guide can have on your overall experience. As a meeting leader, you have the opportunity to greatly influence the impact of each session, according to Stanford lecturer in organizational behavior Matt ...