Now things start to get complex. In the first 3 parts of this series on the future of team building, in part 1 we have examined what team building is and a brief historical review. In part 2 we examined the world of Virtual Team Building and in part 3 we looked at In-Person Team Building. For this final post in this series, we will take a look at the complex world of hybrid team building which incorporates both in-person and virtual elements.
Hybrid Team Building
You may ask why you would consider a hybrid form of team building, and there are many reasons. Now that we have created highly effective virtual team building programs, we can combine these into an in-person setting to include team members that are not able to make it in person for whatever reason.
While this inclusivity is amazing, it is also challenging to pull off well and we are still developing best practices. You might be asking, ‘will a hybrid design allow us to connect the in-person participants and the virtual participants to provide everyone with the same experience?’
In a training workshop and motivational keynote situation this is quite easily done. As the in-person participants experience the event first-hand, the virtual participants are included via web link. In this way the virtual participants can see everything the in-person participants can and using laptops and breakout rooms we can even have small group discussions with mixed in-person and virtual participants. In some cases, robots with iPad have moved around as part of the in-person group effectively bringing the virtual participant right into the event.
Team building programs are often more interactive and team challenge based. Incorporating in-person and virtual is a little more challenging, but it can be done. Tools such as Zoom, WebEx, Teams and FaceTime allow for mobile virtual applications whereby virtual participants can move with and stay connected with the in-person group. It is not exactly the same as being there, but it is a pretty good substitute.
If you choose to go this way you will likely need help from a professional team builder as well as an A/V Tech company to make it seamless and valuable for all participants.
About The Future of Team Building Series
Welcome to the future. Our world is constantly changing, and the ramifications of Covid-19 will be felt for years to come. We may see some changes caused by this pandemic as negative and some as positive. Regardless, the changes are here to stay, and we need to understand them and to adapt to them. In this 4-part series we will explore where we are coming from, where we are today and where we may be in the future as it relates to corporate team building and training.
About the Author
Scott Kress is an accomplished climber and adventurer. He’s completed the Adventure Grand Slam which includes the 7 summits and the North and South Pole. His storytelling based on his adventures is captivating, but what sets Scott apart is his ability to weave his stories together with his 20+ years of leadership and team development education and experience. Scott is the president of Summit Team Building, and is passionate about helping teams grow and companies flourish.