One month out of the year, I can often be found inside a tractor cab. During October, I harvest corn literally by my husband’s side. He operates the combine, and I pull a grain cart beside him. My regular tractor had to go to the tractor doctor, so I ended up in the model depicted in the picture. This tractor is utilized during planting. At first sight, the interior looks a little daunting, like the control center that launches the space shuttle. So many switches and monitors. So many things to draw my attention. With my husband’s quick coaching tips, I operated the machine like I had been running it all my life.
I was similarly daunted by converting in-person meetings into Zoom meetings. How do you get the feel of in-person when you are staring into a camera? How do you exude warm and welcoming through wifi? How do you keep people engaged?
Here are a few tips for uncomplicating Zoom and engaging your participants:
- Grab an Object: If you at your desk participating in a meeting, how easy is it to veer off to check email, fire off a text, scroll social media, or a thousand and one other things? Invite your participants to grab an object to keep their hands busy. For instance, I have a slinky. While I’m Zoom-ing I am messing with the slinky. I have a colleague that has an orange. This is a double sensory item as it also invokes your sense of smell when rolled around.
- Take Breaks: If you are in a long meeting, take a break. This can be a guided break, such as leading your participants in guided stretching or sending them off on a scavenger hunt. I have a trainer friend famous for saying, “The mind can only absorb what the posterior can stand.” Plus, getting people moving cranks up the brainwaves.
- Break Out: Use that breakout button frequently. The breakout button allows you to take your large group and move them into smaller groups. Utilize pairs for getting to know you conversations, or a little larger groups to noodle out a problem or brainstorm. Maintaining a conversational flow with a large group over Zoom is tricky. There is that awkward pause and speaking over each other. Conversations are more manageable and fluid in breakout rooms.
- Shared Workspace: PowerPoints are necessary at times, but collaboration is fantastic. Our facilitation team uses Zoom for communication but often asks people to join a shared Google Doc. It is common to invite 40 or more people to actually interact on a Google Doc. Shared workspace is an excellent way for everyone to literally participate and be on the same page. If your team is more tech-savvy, look at Miro, Mural, or other shared workspaces.
When the pandemic hit, many people were forced into working in the virtual space. I was fortunate to work with a team of colleagues who created a Virtual Bootcamp Workshop to help people recreate an in-person feel in a virtual setting. This workshop uses the tips above and adds hundreds more. The best part is you get a chance to practice them all in the participatory workshop and take home the guide as a bonus. As of writing this, approximately 3000 people have participated in Virtual Bootcamp. This is a 2.5 hour fast-paced, hands-on workshop that focuses on facilitating engaging, effective, participatory meetings, and workshops virtually.
This class is free, but the trainers do except tips. Click Here for Dates.
If you need more in-depth facilitation, let’s talk. From focused conversations to strategic planning, all facilitation services can be developed and delivered virtually using many platforms. Be sure to reach out if you are ready to really engage in effective and participatory meetings and workshops virtually.
