A competent facilitator is vital to the success of any group or learning process. Facilitators should be able to work in a remote setting particularly in light of the increasing popularity of virtual workshops and meetings. Facilitating effectively in a virtual setting takes time and consideration of the unique challenges that participants face. This article examines the main aspects and best practices to ensure effective virtual facilitation.

Virtual participants face a number of https://mergerdataroom.blog/do-managers-consider-the-data-room-as-real-magic/ challenges, among them the inability to discern body language and the reactions of others to a discussion. This can cause people to feel unheard or have their opinions dismissed, which can negatively impact the outcome a meeting. Qualitative facilitation techniques help ensure that all participants are engaged and that all voices are heard.

A lack of physical tools could also make it difficult to run certain exercises and activities as they would in live workshops. For instance, using whiteboards and flip charts, plenty of post-it notes and other tools can be extremely efficient in live workshops however, it can be difficult to replicate online. Add a variety of activities to an online session such as breakout sessions, interactive games and other traditional elements like information sharing and asking questions.

(1)