Virtual sessions are a common way of delivering training, coaching, or collaboration in today's world. But how can you make sure that your virtual session is engaging, effective, and enjoyable for your participants? Here are some tips to help you lead a great virtual session using facilitation skills and techniques.
Before you start your virtual session, you need to have a clear purpose, objectives, and agenda. Think about what you want to achieve, how you will measure success, and what activities and tools you will use to support your session. Also, consider the needs, expectations, and preferences of your participants, and how you will accommodate different learning styles and levels of engagement. Plan your session with enough time, flexibility, and variety to keep your participants interested and involved.
One important perspective that I take into account is how do you want your participants to feel during the workshop and at the end of the session. Based on that and type of audience you can choose the appropriate method that can serve you to reach the objectives for the session.
Your virtual session will depend on the quality of your technology, equipment, and environment. Make sure that you have a reliable internet connection, a good microphone and camera, and a quiet and comfortable space to conduct your session. Test your audio and video settings, your presentation software, and any other tools or platforms that you will use during your session. Also, prepare any materials, resources, or handouts that you will share with your participants, and make sure they are accessible and easy to use.
One of the biggest challenges of virtual sessions is to keep your participants engaged and motivated. You need to use different facilitation styles and models to create a positive and interactive learning environment. For example, you can use the GROW model to structure your coaching sessions, the ORID model to guide your discussions, or the 4Ps model to design your workshops. You can also use various techniques to stimulate participation, such as icebreakers, polls, quizzes, breakout rooms, chat, feedback, and reflection.
Virtual sessions are not always predictable or smooth. You may encounter technical issues, distractions, interruptions, or unexpected questions or reactions from your participants. You need to be flexible and adaptable to deal with any situation that may arise during your session. You can use your facilitation skills to troubleshoot problems, manage conflicts, handle objections, and redirect the conversation. You can also use your emotional intelligence to sense the mood, energy, and needs of your participants, and adjust your tone, pace, and approach accordingly.
Your virtual session does not end when you close your meeting. You need to follow up and evaluate your session to ensure that your participants have achieved the desired outcomes, and that you have delivered a high-quality and valuable experience. You can use different methods to follow up and evaluate your session, such as surveys, feedback forms, emails, calls, or online communities. You can also use the data and insights from your session to improve your facilitation skills and plan your future sessions.
Evaluation is crucial. Understanding the reaction to your session can help forge connection between you and your target audience. Plus, gauging their satisfaction accurately can help to establish return on investment in the future. ??Always take evaluation, metrics, and impact into account when designing a new virtual session. This will help you create the most impactful content.
?? Pro Tip: Practice before you go. Personally, I always do a run through (at least once) before facilitating. I find it helps with confidence and overall execution.