What are the best ways to help employees feel connected in online large group facilitation?

The most effective way to build morale and develop people is to give them a voice. The best way to lead is to serve, teach, encourage, and give each person's voice the ability to be heard. As a leader, I can become better and more effective if I allow my team to give ideas, discuss issues, and voice concerns openly. When people feel valued they become more intrinsically motivated to contribute and utilize their unique gifts. My best strategy to help others become proactive and responsible is to help them explore their perceptions and thinking, whenever their feelings and emotions drive their behaviors. Let the team know that each idea and opinion is valuable, however, some ideas may not be activated into the system of things.

In my experience, I have found logging on a few minutes earlier than the session start time and having an informal meet & greet helps. This way, you can connect as person to person and also learn some names. It will help to call on some names during the session to participate or share an antic or story you may have spoken about before the session. Involving people during the session and learning about them as a person creates a friendly, warm and inviting ambiance to the session. People are more interested in learning when you take and interest in them as a fellow human.

Plan to engage them through activities. Break out rooms are helpful. Online facilitation requires more planning than in-person because you have to plan which tool and activity is required to engage. Variety helps but don't include as many tools as you can - that tends to overwhelm the participants.

In online large group facilitation, fostering employee connection is crucial. Utilize video conferencing for face-to-face interaction, incorporate interactive tools like polls and breakout sessions for engagement, encourage active participation through discussions, and use collaborative platforms for shared projects. Regular communication, clear expectations, and acknowledging contributions help maintain a sense of connection and community within the virtual environment.

Using a variety of tools in online large group facilitation is crucial. Diverse tools cater to different communication styles and preferences. Incorporating video conferencing, collaboration platforms, and interactive polls ensures engagement. This variety not only enhances participation but also accommodates the diverse needs of employees, fostering a more inclusive and connected online facilitation experience.

Set ground rules at the onset of the session to let people know you will ask for volunteers and/or call on people randomly by name as needed to encourage the sharing of thoughtful questions, answers, and lessons learned. In online environments, there is a default observer syndrome in place that you have to deliberately challenge. Once it becomes clear that this is how the class will operate, people will warm up to it and be more inclined to be active listeners and guard themselves from being caught multiple-tasking. Adult learning theory tells us that adults expect to be involved in their learning and contribute from their base of experiences. Most people I know, get paid to be in class, so an effort to participate is part of your job.

Do this in every workshop. The best norms are positive and easy to understand - Be courteous, Be present, and Be curious. These are clear and cover the majority of issues.

Establishing clear expectations and norms is essential in online large group facilitation. Clearly defined guidelines provide structure, reducing uncertainty and promoting a focused environment. Setting expectations for participation, communication, and collaboration ensures a cohesive experience. Establishing norms encourages a shared understanding, enhancing team dynamics and fostering a sense of community among participants in large online sessions.

You can set rules at the beginning and you can ask for expectations and aims. Afterwards you can check if you'd fullfilled the expectations or if there are open questions. With this tool you visualize the whole process.

When we first started meeting online, we didn't just jump into agendas and action items. We paused, took a breath, and collectively decided how we wanted our virtual space to feel. It wasn't about laying down the law but about weaving a tapestry of mutual respect, attentiveness, and care. This collective crafting of our virtual norms wasn't a one-off event; it's an ongoing conversation, ensuring our digital space evolves as we do.

I've found that using the time at the beginning, when you're still waiting for participants to all join in, to welcome and chat with the participants already logged in really helps humanise the facilitator and makes the participants feel more comfortable. I am usually logged in 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled time and participants trickle in slowly over the next 15 mins. A little bit of small talk goes a long way, and I usually end up speaking to at least 75% of the batch even before we formally welcome them to the program. In my experience, whenever I have done this, the engagement level throughout the program is significantly higher.

I open EVERY online engagement with a "grounding" which is intended to allow people to move from a previous space, to be connected, and most importantly to bring their voice to the space. After a welcome, I provide them a short answer question about current state, celebration or something fun. We answer in the chat bar for this one. While they are answering, I set up groups of 3 in breakout rooms for about 4 minutes. I then provide them a more challenging question that is connected to our work that day and calls for much deeper thinking. They then spend time connecting with one another and to the work at hand. When they return, we go over agenda, outcomes and our work for the session. There is immense power when a voice enters a room!

Building rapport and trust is foundational in online large group facilitation. Establishing personal connections contributes to a positive atmosphere, making participants feel more comfortable sharing ideas. Trust fosters open communication and collaboration, crucial for the success of large online sessions. Facilitators should create opportunities for team-building activities and interactions, cultivating a sense of camaraderie that enhances engagement and overall connectedness among participants.

I've found it helpful to begin with polls that allow anonymous delivery of demographics relevant to the gathering's purpose. Knowing that you are not the only newbie or veteran begins to ease anxiety. Using polls that share anonymous relevant demographics begins to break the ice amongst strangers allows the group to see commonalities, laying the groundwork of building connections and bonds.

Utilise "real-life" stories and experiences and invite the audience into YOUR own space and experiences. Make the intervention realistic to the world and use environmental intelligence as your toll

Reward systems can be powerful tools for incentivizing participation and fostering engagement in online discussions. Here are some tips. 1. Establish clear criteria 2. Offer diverse rewards 3. Recognize and acknowledge contributions 4. Create a tiered system 5. Promote healthy competition 6. Encourage collaboration 7. Monitor and adjust style These strategies can help create a dynamic and engaging environment that encourages active participation and contribution from members.

Encouraging interaction and collaboration is paramount in online large group facilitation. Interactive elements, like breakout sessions and collaborative tools, maintain participant engagement. Collaboration fosters diverse perspectives, enriching discussions and problem-solving. By actively involving participants, facilitators create a dynamic and inclusive environment that enhances the overall experience, promoting a sense of connection and shared involvement in the online session.

A down side to the online facilitation environment is the barrier it creates for full visibility of body language. Our body tells the truths are mind/heart won't allow our mouths the tell. Monitoring the progress, mood, and energy of online sessions so that you can adjust your pace, tone, and content is no easy task. An intentional use of polls, other interactives, or simply encouraging attendees to unmute to share can be very helpful for checking the pulse and earning buy-in.

I really like to work with appreciation and gratitude. It is such a powerful tool. When people are grateful, they begin to shine and the energy is so high. Afterwords everyone has a good feeling and they are happy, that they joined.