Remote sessions that are well-designed and facilitated become more important as teams are more remote. Virtual facilitation requires a distinctive set of abilities, and learning to facilitate online can take time and practice. This article provides some suggestions and ideas that can make you a more effective virtual facilitator.
One of the biggest problems when conducting an online workshop is maintaining levels of energy throughout the workshop. When you are facilitating a virtual workshop it can be difficult to interpret your body language. It is therefore crucial to keep your energy levels high. This will help you to create a safer atmosphere and create a sense cooperation among your participants.
Another challenge when facilitating virtual meetings is managing technical glitches. They can be a source of frustration for your attendees and can hinder the flow of your meeting or workshop. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to test your internet connection and have a backup hotspot in case of an outage. It is also important to ensure that you have a top-quality webcam and microphone and that you are in a quiet area free of background noise or distractions.
In addition, it’s essential to be clear to your attendees the expectations of the session prior to when you begin. The ability to send workshop materials prior to the session is important, as is letting them know any logistical details (such local time zones) prior to the virtual session. In addition, you can increase participation by calling your participants and asking open-ended questions to stimulate discussion.