Just under half of office workers surveyed (47%) said they find it confusing having to use various different video conferencing platform, suggesting that workers have not fully adapted to a hybrid culture.
Also, over half (53%) said it is harder to stay focused during remote meetings, according to a recent survey conducted by Sharp.
Given the high reliance on technology to support meetings, it is surprising to see that only 47 percent of office workers said they have received training on how to use the technology.
While much of Europe has now returned to the office, it is no longer full-time. With at least part of the working week taking place remotely, there is a continued need to rely on video conferencing technology to stay connected with colleagues – in or out of the office.
Also, with yet another rail strike happening today – and potentially more on the horizon during the school summer break – many will have no other option than to work from home.
What are the benefits of remote meetings?
Despite the concerns raised in the research, remote meetings provided more opportunities for many workers under the age of 30, with half (50%) stating they are more confident at speaking up in virtual meetings than face to face.
Also, almost three in five (59%) stating that more people can contribute during remote meetings.
Ian Barnard, Senior Vice President Marketing and Product Management, at Sharp NEC Display Solutions Europe explains: “At Sharp our mission is to end bad meetings. These insights show that businesses need solutions to suit the needs of a hybrid future, ensuring that technology does not create barriers in meetings but provides effective ways to engage with all participants. A mix of interactive tools are needed to enable collaboration around ideas and the sharing of information, to ensure everyone is involved and effective.”
Dr Nigel Oseland continues: “Training on how to get the best from technology, as well as tools and techniques that underpin good meetings, will help to combat the issues that workers are experiencing remotely and ensure the future success of hybrid meetings.”
The future of remote work and the hybrid culture
Dr Nigel Oseland a workplace psychologist working with Sharp explains: “Many people are now used to hybrid working, but hybrid meetings can be challenging from a number of perspectives. Sharp’s findings highlight the importance of keeping meetings interactive to encourage creativity, especially for those joining remotely because it is that much harder to come up with new ideas virtually. It is interactivity between the remote audience and the in-person experience that helps create engagement, and technology can be key to driving this.”
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
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