How to Increase Trust in Hybrid Meetings?
Hybrid work has become the new normal, redefining how we communicate, collaborate, and build trust in professional settings. With teams split between physical offices and remote locations, the ability to foster trust and connection in hybrid meetings has become a strategic necessity. A pioneering study conducted by Jabra in collaboration with the London School of Economics (LSE) provides key insights into how technology can elevate trust and engagement in hybrid meetings. This article explores the essential strategies to increase trust in hybrid meetings, focusing on the role of high-quality technology, communication practices, meeting equity, and leadership.
Key Takeaway:
High-quality technology is not just a convenience—it’s a trust multiplier. Investing in professional-grade audio, video, and communication tools creates a more engaging and equitable hybrid meeting experience, fostering deeper trust and stronger professional relationships.
1. The Role of High-Quality Technology in Building Trust
One of the most striking insights from the Jabra and LSE study is the direct link between technology quality and trust levels in hybrid meetings. The study found that:
✅ Perceived contribution quality increased by 47% when all participants used professional-grade audio and video equipment.
✅ Overall meeting clarity improved by 27% with better equipment.
✅ Trust levels increased by 16% when high-quality technology was used.
✅ Expressiveness—the ability to convey emotions and intent—rose by 35%.
Why Technology Quality Matters
Hybrid meetings require more than just the ability to see and hear each other. Trust is built through nuanced, human interactions, which include:
- Facial expressions – Subtle emotional cues that foster connection and empathy.
- Tone of voice – Essential for conveying sincerity and intention.
- Body language – Critical for understanding engagement and emotional responses.
Professional-grade video and audio equipment enable participants to pick up on these subtle cues more effectively, mirroring the richness of face-to-face interactions. Standard laptop microphones and cameras often compress these nuances, leading to misinterpretations and a sense of detachment.
Action Steps:
✔️ Invest in high-quality microphones and noise-cancelling headsets to capture vocal clarity.
✔️ Use high-resolution cameras to enhance facial expressions and gestures.
✔️ Encourage team members to use dedicated video and audio devices rather than relying on built-in laptop hardware.
✔️ Optimize lighting and background to ensure a professional and consistent visual experience.
2. Strengthening Communication in a Hybrid Environment
Building trust in hybrid meetings goes beyond technological quality—it requires intentional communication strategies that foster connection and transparency. Effective communication in hybrid settings can be structured into three tiers:
1. High-Trust Communication:
✅ In-person meetings or highly interactive virtual meetings.
✅ Ideal for strategic discussions, brainstorming, and sensitive conversations.
✅ High-quality video and audio setups help mirror in-person depth.
2. Mid-Trust Communication:
✅ Synchronous video calls with clear agendas and participation guidelines.
✅ Suitable for team updates and collaborative problem-solving.
✅ Structured Q&A and feedback sessions increase trust and engagement.
3. Low-Trust Communication:
✅ Emails, chats, and memos for non-urgent updates.
✅ Effective for information sharing but not ideal for relationship building.
✅ Should be supplemented with synchronous communication to reinforce connection.
Action Steps:
✔️ Use camera-on policies to increase engagement and accountability.
✔️ Encourage active listening by minimizing multitasking during meetings.
✔️ Implement round-robin participation to ensure all voices are heard.
✔️ Promote the use of collaborative tools like shared whiteboards and live polls.
3. Creating Meeting Equity
One of the most common trust barriers in hybrid meetings is the imbalance between in-person and remote participants. The Jabra and LSE study highlighted the concept of “pixel real estate”—ensuring equal visibility and participation for all attendees. Remote participants often feel sidelined when their video feeds are minimized or when in-person attendees dominate the conversation.
Why Meeting Equity Matters
- Remote participants often struggle to interject or feel overlooked in group conversations.
- Unequal screen visibility reduces the perceived value of contributions from remote participants.
- A lack of visibility can lead to disengagement and reduced trust.
Strategies for Achieving Meeting Equity:
✅ Use individual video feeds for all participants rather than a single shared camera for in-person groups.
✅ Invest in 360-degree cameras that track and highlight active speakers.
✅ Utilize gallery view in video conferencing tools to give equal visual presence.
✅ Rotate meeting facilitators to ensure balanced participation across locations.
✅ Implement a chat moderator to monitor and address remote participant input in real-time.
Action Steps:
✔️ Establish a “one person, one frame” rule for all hybrid meetings.
✔️ Use hand-raising features to ensure everyone gets a chance to speak.
✔️ Create a culture where remote contributions are actively acknowledged and valued.
4. Leadership’s Role in Trust Building
Effective leadership is a cornerstone of trust in hybrid work environments. Leaders must actively shape communication norms and technological investments to foster an environment where trust can thrive.
Key Leadership Behaviors for Building Trust:
✅ Lead by example – Consistently use high-quality technology and model engagement.
✅ Encourage open dialogue – Make space for honest feedback and input.
✅ Create psychological safety – Encourage vulnerability and the sharing of ideas without fear of judgment.
✅ Adapt to technological changes – Stay informed about emerging tools and trends to enhance hybrid meeting quality.
Action Steps:
✔️ Begin meetings with an icebreaker or personal check-in to build rapport.
✔️ Encourage feedback on meeting structure and technology use.
✔️ Recognize and celebrate contributions from both in-person and remote participants.
✔️ Set clear expectations for participation and follow-up actions.
5. Leveraging Advanced Technology to Deepen Trust
The future of hybrid meetings lies in augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies, which promise to create an even more immersive and engaging meeting environment.
Potential Impact of AR and VR:
✅ Enhanced immersion – Participants can interact in shared virtual spaces.
✅ Real-time data visualization – Augmented reality can overlay key insights during discussions.
✅ Body language replication – VR can replicate eye contact and spatial awareness, enhancing connection.
Action Steps:
✔️ Experiment with VR meeting platforms for strategic discussions and training sessions.
✔️ Test AR solutions for live data sharing and interactive brainstorming.
✔️ Explore platforms that allow for customized avatars and real-time reactions.
6. Establishing Ethical and Privacy Standards
As technology becomes more integrated into hybrid meetings, it’s critical to maintain ethical standards and protect participants’ privacy.
Key Ethical Considerations:
- Data privacy – Be transparent about how meeting data is collected and used.
- Consent – Obtain consent for recording and storing meetings.
- Surveillance limits – Avoid excessive monitoring of employee activity during meetings.
Action Steps:
✔️ Develop a privacy policy for virtual meetings.
✔️ Provide training on ethical technology use.
✔️ Use platforms that offer end-to-end encryption for data security.
Conclusion: Trust as the Foundation of Hybrid Success
The insights from the Jabra and LSE study reveal that high-quality technology and intentional communication practices are pivotal in building trust in hybrid meetings. Trust is not merely a byproduct of personal connection—it is the result of strategic choices in technology, meeting structure, and leadership behavior.
By investing in the right tools, fostering meeting equity, and empowering leaders to shape inclusive and engaging environments, organizations can transform hybrid meetings into powerful engines of trust and collaboration. The hybrid future is here—those who embrace these strategies will build stronger teams, deeper connections, and a more cohesive workplace culture.
