Master the Art of Live Virtual.

Mastering the Art of Exceptional Virtual Workshops: A Comprehensive Guide.

After 100 live virtual events for people all over the world, we know a thing or two about making live encounters successful. Fantastic keynote speakers don't necessarily make great virtual presenters, right off the bat. Here are some key elements we've learned.

Virtual workshops have become an integral part of modern learning and collaboration, offering a convenient and cost effective way to engage participants from different locations. Live virtual is far superior to one-way e-learning and video on demand. However, hosting a successful virtual workshop requires careful planning, organization, and a deep understanding of the digital environment. Using our experience at Elevate, in this guide, we'll explore the key strategies to manage exceptional virtual workshops that captivate participants and achieve meaningful outcomes.

In our Elevate world, the 30 minute workshop + Q&A is what we focus on as the most time-efficient way of delivering memorable value. These elements are based on our format.

1: Define Clear Objectives.

Spend Begin by outlining the specific goals and learning objectives of the workshop, and communicating this with your audience. Clear objectives provide focus and direction for both you and your participants. Determine what participants should know, understand, or be able to do by the end of the workshop.

2. Choose the Right Tech. Use it Wisely.

Hardware: You must have good sound and HD video, great lighting (self and flood background) and a clutter free set. Eyes on the camera, not pointing elsewhere. There are loads of resources on YouTube to help perfect your on camera position. We can't emphasise enough ow important it is to set this up so people can see you "naturally" and not work hard to see your face.

Software: We tend to default to Zoom, but Teams and Google are just as good. Ensure you use meeting mode and encourage people to participate on camera. . Select a reliable virtual workshop platform that offers interactive features such as video conferencing, breakout rooms, chat, and screen sharing. Ensure that participants can easily access the platform and any necessary materials.

3. Engage early and often.

Those who are walking dogs and queuing for latte while watching and listening are camera-off "secondary participants". Focus on the ones you can see, and make it intimate. Just talking for 15 minutes is not good enough, and may as well be a TED talk ... an Elevate Live workshop is all about interactivity. Consider 5 minute segments for your 30 minute session. At each stage, develop content that is engaging, interactive, and relevant to the participants' needs. Incorporate a variety of media such as slides, videos, polls, and interactive activities to maintain interest and participation. Don't over do it. There is no time for complex tasks. Poll at the start of each segment, ask a question in the chat at the end. Change pace, throw in a story or two.

4. Don't upsell.

??Plan and incorporate interactive activities throughout the workshop to keep participants engaged. Breakout sessions, group discussions, role-playing, and collaborative problem-solving exercises can enhance participation and promote active learning.

5. Effective Time Management.

Even for 30 minutes, you'll need to create a realistic schedule that includes a short break to prevent participant fatigue. Allocate time for each topic, activity, and discussion, and stick to the schedule to ensure a smooth flow. After 28 minutes on our schedule, you must wrap up, summarise and call your next steps (suggesting ratings and reviews and social shares for example). You can carry on with Q&A for those that wish you but DON'T OVER RUN. Your participants will thank you for a prompt finish.

6. Engage and Conquer.

Master the art of virtual facilitation. Consider your presence on camera. Maintain a confident and engaging persona, not slumped in your chair, but right with the participants. Encourage participation, and manage discussions effectively, without having it throw you off balance. Address questions, (pushing them to the Q&A if required), provide clear explanations, and foster a positive learning environment. Rather than indulge one individual, utilize interactive tools to gather opinions, feedback, and ideas in real time, and keep moving at a clip.

7. Q&A.

A fun interactive talk does not have to be peppered with Q&A. In fact one question during your 30 minutes can throw you right off balance and time. We like to put our Q&A after the core session, for those with more flexible schedules, (or who might be listening to the recording). Encourage participant involvement by using their names, asking open-ended questions, and acknowledging their contributions.

8. Visual and Audio Quality.

Invest in a quality microphone, (we love the Blue Yeti!) a good camera, and lighting setup to ensure clear communication and professional appearance. Poor audio or visual quality can hinder participants' engagement and comprehension. Equally, we have also experienced overkill. You can spend thousands and not get an improved result. Beware expensive solutions that turn you unto a TV producer. Keep it simple, clean and focus on content

9. Anticipate the Glitch

?BadAnticipate technical challenges and provide clear instructions for troubleshooting common issues. Have a dedicated support team or resources available to assist participants with any technical difficulties.

10. Post-Workshop Follow-Up.

At Elevate, we reinforce learning by providing participants with resources, recordings of the workshop, and a summary of key takeaways. We have a community forum and will post any unanswered questions, encouraging ongoing discussion and collaboration in follow-up sessions.

11. Feedback and Improvement.

This element is absolutely essential. Too many events we have run and others witnessed, allows the speaker to think the overall event was great, when there were profound underlying problems, over-run, pace, content or just general lack of engagement. From September, we are going to be strict! Gathering feedback from participants through ratings and reviews using our learning portal should really be mandatory, and our ultra-engaged price point encourages that community feel. We will post private surveys to participants to identify strengths and areas for improvement. We use this feedback to refine our speakers approach and enhance future workshops.

12. Adapt and Flex.

Be prepared to adapt to unforeseen circumstances, such as technical glitches or participant questions that lead to unexpected discussions. Flexibility in your approach ensures a seamless experience for participants.

By mastering our key strategies, you can create and manage exceptional virtual workshops that deliver value, engage participants, and foster a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. With thoughtful planning and continuous improvement, virtual workshops will become a powerful tool for knowledge-sharing, skill-building, and professional growth.

At Elevate, we pride ourselves on excellence for our audience. If you would like to be considered for one of our live virtual talks, check out our LinkedIn company page