‌ ‌ ‌ December 1, 2021

Successful Solutions

This Issue: The rising popularity of hybrid work.

Fall Is Here! This means colder weather and shorter days. But, the good news? We also have falling COVID numbers in some places and rising numbers in others. This is driving most organizations to resume hybrid work arrangements where employees work a combination of days from home and in the office. An immediate impact of this new reality is the need for all of us to run hybrid meetings. A hybrid meeting (or learning session) is when some of the participants are meeting in person while some participants join the meeting virtually via technology like Zoom.   This edition of Successful Solutions focuses on how to run hybrid meetings. Pre-COVID, we already embraced the need for our clients to run hybrid meetings. Additionally, we have access to meeting facilities with the proper technology both in our Shrewsbury, MA and Springfield, MA locations. But, running successful hybrid meetings is much trickier than just having the proper technology.   The “What’s New at ODLS” section features the services we can provide to help your organization run hybrid meeting and learning programs. Our Client Spotlight focuses on an example of running a hybrid meeting. We also include a brief overview of the type of technology needed to run these meetings. Our Staff Spotlight features our Program Manager Jacob Ward who is our Shrewsbury onsite Zoom expert. Lastly, our Top Ten Tips article focuses on running a successful hybrid event. For more information on how we can help your organization with its Organizational Development Consulting, Learning Solutions and Event Management needs, read on and be sure to visit us: www.donahue.umass.edu/odls. Thanks! Dana L. Henry, Director dlhenry@donahue.umass.edu

New At ODLS!

Our Services for Hybrid Meetings or Learning Sessions Facility rental: includes a meeting room with technology for running a hybrid session. Locations include: Shrewsbury (pictured) at 333 South Street, Suite 400, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 and the UMass Center at Springfield at 1500 Main St, Springfield, MA 01115. Technology support during your meeting Session facilitation Re-design of your existing learning program for hybrid delivery Coaching/consulting on best practices for delivering your hybrid meetings/sessions Contact Dana Henry for more information. In this Issue New at ODLS Services for Running Hybrid Sessions Spotlights Staff Spotlight: Jacob Ward Upcoming public programs Useful Resources Top 10 Tips for Holding a Hybrid Learning Session Helpful Links

Spotlights

ODLS Client: The Massachusetts Comprehensive Cancer Coalition goes hybrid We set up hybrid workgroup meetings for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Cancer Prevention and Control Network. Virtual attendees joining the session via Zoom with in-person attendees at the Shrewsbury, MA office conference center.  Learn how we helped the coalition go hybrid.

ODLS Staff: Jacob Ward, Program Manager Jacob works out of our Shrewsbury office primarily supporting our clients by providing event management/enrollments and project/budget management. He provides direct client services such as the design and administration of surveys, helping to organize and analyze client data/project materials and hosting/facilitating hybrid Zoom meetings/sessions. Jacob has over five years of project management and consulting experience, mainly in the higher education sector. Most recently with us, Jacob assisted in the development and implementation of change management initiatives and campus-wide innovation projects, as well as retreats and organizational development workshops. In addition, he has supported leaders to orient their teams and develop new habits to coordinate action.  Prior to this, he served in an advisory capacity for an international tour operator, branding alumni travel experiences for client institutions. Jacob holds a bachelor's in marketing from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Charlton College of Business. Learn more about the ODLS staff.

Useful Resources

Top 10 Tips: Hybrid Learning Sessions A hybrid meeting or learning event can be extremely convenient by providing the option of both in-person or virtual participation. But the facilitation of a hybrid meeting can be quite tricky. When a hybrid session is a learning event then the design of the activities is also a key consideration. First consideration: Do you need to hold a hybrid meeting at all?! A hybrid session is convenient for your participants but does not always facilitate the best learning experience. Before trying to design a hybrid session first make sure it is absolutely necessary! Focus on the needs of the remote participants equally to the needs of those attending in-person. This sounds like common sense but…one of the biggest challenges in facilitating a hybrid learning session is to ensure equal interaction between virtual and in-person participants. Your tendency will be to focus on the live people in front of you. This means you’ll need to actually give your virtual participants a little more of your attention to ensure they are engaged and you notice when they have questions. Set Ground Rules. Ground rules are absolutely key in facilitating a successful hybrid event. Keep everyone muted including people in the room! Set a clear ground rule that questions will only be answered via a raised hand. Ensure your online participants now where/how to raise their virtual hand. Then alternate on calling on virtual and in-person participants to answer their questions.  Read all 10 tips.

Helpful Links Professional Development Vendors See our full list of recommended Partners and Vendors Professional Development Resources MindTools e-Learning Industry Harvard Business Review Resources Bersin by Deloitte Velsoft Training Hogan Assessments Professional Learning Associations Central Massachusetts Association of Talent Development Boston Association of Talent Development National Association of Talent Development Human Resource Leadership Forum OD Network Boston Facilitators Roundtable

UMass Donahue Institute Organizational Development & Learning Solutions 100 Venture Way, Suite 9 Hadley, MA 01035 (413) 896-6140 dlhenry@donahue.umass.edu www.donahue.umass.edu/odls ‌ ‌ ‌

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