Virtual meetings are becoming the norm in many organizations with software such as Zoom and Skype making it easy to meet across geographic distance. But not all virtual meetings accomplish their goals. What gets in the way? Multitasking attendees. Uneven participation. Boring report outs and updates. Not using web cameras. Muted phone lines. Poorly planned agendas.
These common obstacles are symptoms of poor planning and weak design. Good planning requires taking the needs of participants into account. Here are twelve brain-based principles that we can apply in designing and facilitating better virtual meetings.
For Engagement
Active Engagement = Active Brains (Engage virtual meeting participants using all your web conferencing interaction tools)
Neurons that Fire Together Wire Together (Unleash innovative solutions to problems with multi-sensory meeting activities)
Vision Trumps All Other Senses (Develop compelling slide decks that trigger involvement)
Social Learning Fires Mirror Neurons (Make it personal, emotional, and connected by using web cameras)
No Pain - No Gain (Challenge attendees to solve real world problems in the meeting)
Practice Makes Permanent (For long-term retention, take time to practice and receive feedback)
For Knowledge Retention and Application
Prime the Pump (Send background information and agendas in advance)
Chunk it Down (Break key discussion topics into shorter segments to maximize attention)
Mix it Up (Bring variety and novelty to your meeting flow)
Sleep On It (For complex topics, hold multiple virtual meetings, delivered over several days)
Test and Retest (If you want attendees to remember and recall information, play games to reinforce what they've discussed and learned)
Use It or Lose It (Follow up with action items and resources immediately after the meeting)
Virtual Trainer Tips: Find Cynthia Clay at an Upcoming Conference
I love facilitating virtual training. And I also love presenting and speaking face-to-face. I'd love to meet you in person at one of these upcoming speaking engagements.
Explore something new with one of our engaging and interactive webinars or public courses.
Become a Virtual Training Expert with Our Deep-Dive Virtual Facilitator Course!
It's not too early to start planning for your Fall training! The September Virtual Facilitator Trainer Certification Course (VFTC) is open for enrollment. This wildly popular course always receives rave reviews from participants as it provides a deep-dive into best practices for virtual facilitation and design!
You've seen Cynthia Clay in action month after month, now it's your turn to rock the virtual classroom! Course opens September 7th, and the first webinar is September 14th.
That's Using Your Noggin: Brain-based Principles for Better Virtual Meetings
If you'd like to reap the potential offered by virtual meetings, then you must leverage four cognitive principles that support attention, participation, innovation, and problem solving. In this interactive webinar, you'll learn how to change the way you design and deliver virtual meetings as you capitalize on the neuroscience that supports effective online interaction and collaboration..
Ensure that your organization attracts and retains Millennial talent. Develop your emerging leaders' skills in self-development, performance management, team performance, and organizational impact.
Rocking the Digital Workplace: Leading High-Impact Virtual Teams
As organizations continue the trend towards virtual workplaces and teams, managers quickly discover that leading teams with dispersed team members poses new challenges.
After watching this webinar, you'll be able to describe the underlying needs of virtual team members; improve outcomes in the areas of relationship, reliability, results, and recognition; leverage key leader behaviors to gain commitment and high impact; implement a program to build the new breed of digital-ready leaders.
Watch the recording of this dynamic webinar presented by Cynthia Clay for Training Magazine.
Virtual meetings are becoming the norm in many organizations with software such as Zoom and Skype making it easy to meet across geographic distance. But not all virtual meetings accomplish their goals. What gets in the way? Multitasking attendees. Uneven participation. Boring report outs and updates. Not using web cameras. Muted phone lines. Poorly planned agendas.
