Virtual Facilitation – How to Be an Effective Facilitator Online
Remote sessions that are well-designed and well-facilitated are becoming more important as teams work remotely more often. Facilitating virtual meetings is a skill which requires practice and patience. This article explores some tips and hints that will help you become an effective virtual facilitator.
Maintaining your energy levels is among of the most difficult things to do when conducting a virtual workshop. When you’re facilitating an online workshop it can be difficult to discern your body language. It is therefore crucial to keep your energy levels up. This will help create a more safe environment and encourage collaboration among your participants.
A technical issue can be a major issue for virtual facilitators. These can be a source of frustration for your participants and hinder the flow of your meeting or workshop. It is crucial to test your connection and have an alternate hotspot just in the event of. Also, make sure that you have a top-quality microphone and webcam and that you’re in a quiet area free of distractions or background noise.
It’s important to communicate with your delegates clearly about the session’s objectives prior to the start of the session. This includes sending any workshop materials in advance and communicating any logistical information (such as local time zones) at the beginning of your virtual session. You can also increase the engagement by asking open-ended, conversation-oriented questions and calling on participants.
