A skilled facilitator is crucial to the success of any learning or group. Facilitators should be able to work from a remote location, especially with the rise of virtual meetings and workshops. To facilitate effectively in remote settings requires time and careful evaluation of the unique challenges participants have to overcome. This article explores key considerations and best practices to ensure effective virtual facilitation.
Virtual participants face a range of difficulties, such as the inability to discern body language and the reactions of others to an exchange. This can lead some to feel ignored or have their opinions dismissed, which could adversely affect the outcome of the meeting. Facilitation skills that are of high quality help to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and that everyone is engaged throughout the entire session.
In addition, the absence of physical materials could make it difficult to run the same exercises and activities that would be conducted in live workshops. In live workshops whiteboards and flip charts, post-it notes, and other visual resources are efficient. However, this can be a challenge for online workshops. Bring a variety of different activities to an online session such as breakout sessions, experiential games as well as more traditional elements like information sharing and questions.