A competent facilitator is an essential element to success in any learning or group process. Facilitators must be able work from a remote location, especially with the rise of virtual meetings and workshops. But, facilitating effectively in a virtual setting takes time and attention to the unique challenges that participants have to face. This article will explore the essential factors and best practices for effective virtual facilitation.
Virtual participants face a variety of challenges, among them the inability to understand body language and the way others react to the conversation. This can result in people not feeling heard or their opinions are dismissed which could have a negative impact on the overall outcome of a meeting. A good facilitator’s skills help to ensure that all voices are heard and that participants are engaged throughout the session.
In addition, a lack of physical materials makes it difficult to conduct the same exercises and activities that could be utilized in live workshops. For example using whiteboards, flip charts, plenty of post-it notes, and other visual tools can be extremely effective in a live workshop but it isn’t easy to replicate online. Mixing a variety of activities, such as breakout sessions, experiential games along with more traditional elements like questions and information sharing can help to keep online sessions fresh active, fun and productive.
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