Dear Yogesh,

I’m the only remote team member in my group. Pre-Covid, we all worked together in the office, but during the pandemic, I took advantage of the company’s remote work option and moved back to my hometown to be closer to my parents, who need some assistance. And it has been continuing since then.

While many of our meetings are still on Zoom, as some of the team works from home a few days a week, there are times when everyone else is in the office, and I’m the only one joining remotely. During these in-person meetings, there are often multiple side conversations happening at once. I struggle to hear everything, and more often than not, the team forgets that I’m on Zoom. Last week, for instance, two people stepped out of the room and had a conversation that I should have been part of. It wasn’t intentional, but it still stung.

What can I do to change this dynamic? I’m worried that I might miss important discussions and that over time, my contributions might seem less important.

Fatima

Dear Fatima,

It’s understandable that you’re feeling this way—it sounds frustrating. What you're experiencing is a result of natural human biases such as "out of sight, out of mind" and in-group favoritism. It's not personal, so try not to take it that way.

There are two key steps you can take to address this. First, consider discussing your experience with your manager. It’s part of their role to ensure all team members feel included, and they may not realize what’s happening. Be open and honest about how often you feel excluded during in-person meetings. Offer some ideas on how the team can make remote participation more inclusive. These changes will require effort and consistency, and your manager will need to lead by example to ensure they happen. If it’s possible, you might also propose visiting the office once a month or every six weeks. Perhaps the company could help with travel costs, or you could split the expenses.

The second idea is to create more informal connections with your team. When people are in the office together, they naturally build relationships through small talk—“How’s the family?” or “How was your weekend?” These informal moments are vital for bonding. A quick 15-minute one-on-one chat with each of your teammates on a regular basis could help nurture those relationships, even if it’s virtual. Though this became less common once everyone returned to normal post-Covid, it’s still important to foster these connections.

Another suggestion is to have an “in-room” advocate—someone in the office who can make sure you’re included in conversations. If that’s not possible, you’ll need to take charge and gently remind the group that you’re still on the call if they start to forget. This used to happen even before video meetings, with the lone person on speakerphone being left out of side conversations. Don’t be afraid to speak up when necessary.

You’re certainly not alone in dealing with this challenge. Hybrid teams are now more common than ever, and it’s up to both managers and team members to ensure everyone feels part of the group. By taking proactive steps—seeking support, making requests, and gently reminding others—you can work to overcome these challenges.

Best wishes,

Yogesh