The mix of remote and in-person participants, especially in hybrid work arrangements, has created unique challenges for Singapore-based companies wanting to run inclusive and participative meetings, according to a recent survey conducted by Logitech.
Results revealed that 54% of respondents who have joined a hybrid meeting virtually felt that they had fewer opportunities to build rapport amongst meeting participants. Additionally, 39% agreed that their input would be valued more if they were attending the meeting physically instead of virtually, and 38% felt less included as compared to in-person meeting participants.
While 60% of respondents agree that hybrid meetings would be more productive if all participants had an equal chance to speak and contribute, 65% of those who participate in hybrid meetings in person shared that they tend to engage more with participants that are in the same room.
“The opportunity to participate is the most important factor in establishing a sense of equity in hybrid meetings. Facilitating equitable meetings – ensuring that all meeting participants have equal opportunities to contribute to discussions no matter where they are – needs to be a key consideration for business leaders. By bridging the gaps between in-person and virtual meeting participants, businesses will be able to foster a productive, collaborative, and connected work environment,” said Bryan Lee, head of video collaboration for Southeast Asia at Logitech.
The survey revealed that, although Singapore’s white-collar workforce has returned to their offices in the last few months, more than six in 10 respondents (63%) continue to work remotely to some extent, either in a hybrid or fully remote work arrangement.
“Hybrid work will continue to be the norm as both employers and employees alike see the benefits of flexible working arrangements. The increased frequency of hybrid meetings will come with a host of new challenges for organisations, creating a strong impetus for business leaders to get hybrid meetings right,” said Lee.
Conducted between June 21, 2022 and June 29, 2022, the survey of over 1,000 employees delves into the state of current work arrangements, the impact of hybrid work on meetings, and the challenges that business leaders and employees face in this new normal.
Technical issues are significant challenges
The survey also showed employees joining meetings remotely are plagued with technical issues: connectivity problems at 56% and poor audio quality at 53% topped the list of their woes.
Moreover, 34% of respondents also shared that poor video quality was an issue they experienced during hybrid meetings. Interpersonal issues such as getting talked over by other participants during meetings (29%) and difficulty contributing to discussions (26%) were also cited as challenges in hybrid meetings.
To address these pain points, Logitech said organisations will have to ensure that employees have access to critical technology, including string network connectivity and video conferencing devices.
In fact, the survey revealed the critical role of video conferencing technology in solving the meeting equity problem. Over 6 in 10 respondents (61%) agreed that hybrid meetings are more engaging when video conferencing systems with high-quality audio and video output are used.
