Facilitation’s Post

Some very good suggestions by Emmy Lucas on ways to promote engagement during virtual meetings. As she notes: "An effective facilitator will pay attention to the chat and, when hand emojis are raised, include everyone in the conversation. If you’re running meetings or in charge of a team, make sure you use one, especially in virtual meetings." In addition to the suggestions in the article, every team should agree on ground rules that will guide interaction during meetings.

Virtual meetings are here to stay! They're great for connecting a more geographically dispersed workforce and they drive more inclusivity. BUT, the next time you start a virtual meeting by insisting that everyone turn their cameras on, consider why you feel it’s necessary. Do you really think that it will negatively impact the conversation? Or do you just want to make sure everyone is paying attention? Did you know, some people will be paying less attention to the content of the meeting if they’re forced to have their camera on? It could be causing them great anxiety - wondering if their face is showing the correct expression for what’s being said or whether they’re looking engaged enough. Also, some of us concentrate best with our eyes closed, or while doodling, or while moving around. All things that could potentially cause distraction if we keep our cameras on! If you feel like some attendees aren’t engaging in a meeting, maybe think less about the need to see their faces and more about: 💻 whether they really need to be there (did the organiser just get a bit heavy handed with the invites)? 💻 have you actually invited discussion, or have you positioned it as a presentation? 💻 have you created a feeling of psychological safety so that people don’t worry about saying the wrong thing? 💻 does everyone REALLY need to speak to show they’re paying attention? 💻 do you have team members who prefer to reflect and give a lot of thought to a subject before venturing an opinion? What are your thoughts on virtual meetings? Do you prefer your own camera to be off or on? 👇

🌟 Enhance Your Teleconferences: Effective Strategies for Productive Meetings! 🌟 In today's digital age, teleconferences have become an integral part of how teams collaborate and communicate. Here are some effective strategies to maximize the effectiveness of your teleconferences: 1️⃣ **Set Clear Objectives:** Start by defining clear objectives for the meeting. What do you aim to accomplish? Communicate these objectives to participants in advance to ensure everyone is aligned and focused. 2️⃣ **Prepare an Agenda:** Create a structured agenda outlining topics to be discussed and the allotted time for each. Share this agenda beforehand so participants can come prepared, contributing meaningfully to the discussion. 3️⃣ **Utilize Technology Wisely:** Choose a reliable teleconferencing platform that supports your meeting needs. Familiarize yourself with its features, such as screen sharing, chat, and recording capabilities, to enhance collaboration. 4️⃣ **Engage Participants:** Encourage active participation by involving all attendees in the discussion. Use techniques like asking questions, conducting polls, or assigning roles to keep everyone engaged and focused. 5️⃣ **Manage Time Effectively:** Time management is crucial in virtual meetings. Stick to the agenda and ensure discussions remain on track. Designate a timekeeper to help monitor the meeting's progress and gently guide participants back on topic if needed. 6️⃣ **Encourage Feedback:** Foster an environment where participants feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. Encourage open dialogue and welcome feedback to promote collaboration and drive innovation. 7️⃣ **Follow Up:** After the teleconference, send a summary of key points discussed, action items, and deadlines to all participants. This helps reinforce accountability and ensures everyone is clear on their next steps. By implementing these strategies, you can transform your teleconferences into productive and engaging sessions that drive results. #TeleconferenceTips #Productivity #VirtualCollaboration

Tired of boring virtual meetings? Transform them into captivating experiences by harnessing the power of personalities! Let's be real, most virtual meetings can feel like an endurance test. But, guess what? Your meetings can be different! Injecting a dose of personality data can turn them from a snooze-fest into engaging conversations. When it's your turn to host, you can lead the show like a pro. Check out these 4 tips, paired with Crystal's personality insights, to skyrocket your meeting success: 1️⃣ Set Expectations Up Front: Start meetings with clarity to keep everyone on track. 2️⃣ Know Your Team's Personalities: Use DISC insights to tailor your approach. 3️⃣ Engage Every Personality Type: Create an inclusive environment for all. 4️⃣ Perfect Your Follow-Up Game: Craft follow-ups based on individual preferences. Check out the full blog to start transforming your meetings today! https://lnkd.in/e6ys_Hzy #CrystalKnows #VirtualMeetings #Personality #EngagingMeetings #CrystalInsights #DISC

💻 3 Tips to Stand Out in Online Meetings 💻 In the world of online meetings, it's easy to feel invisible. Cameras off, everyone multitasking, and your ideas get drowned in the digital noise. How do you make sure you're seen, heard, and remembered? 📉 When you don’t stand out, your contributions can be overlooked. Missed opportunities to shine in front of senior management or clients can hurt your career growth and impact. 😔 Here are 3 powerful ways to ensure you make an impression and stand out in online meetings: 1. Start Strong with a Clear Agenda 📝 Before the meeting starts, email or drop in the chat a few key points you plan to discuss. This primes everyone to focus on your contributions. Plus, it shows you're organized and proactive—two traits that always stand out. 2. Use the Power of Pausing ⏸ During the meeting, don't rush to speak. Use a well-placed 3-second pause before answering to create anticipation and command attention. It signals confidence, helps others absorb your message, and makes your words more impactful. 3. Turn on Your Camera & Leverage Body Language 🎥 Being visible boosts connection. Smile, maintain eye contact with the camera, and use hand gestures to emphasize key points. Studies show that 55% of communication is non-verbal—so use this to your advantage even in a virtual space. 💡 Standing out isn’t just about talking more—it’s about leaving a lasting impression. Ready to make an impact in your next meeting? DM me with the word 'Communication', and let's help you shine in public interactions.

The progression of modern tech mixed with the post-COVID culture has led to a massive increase in virtual meetings in replacement of face-to-face meet ups. As much as virtual meetings have their place, I still feel that face-to-face meetings bring benefits that a virtual interaction cant. Here's why: Building Trust: Face-to-face interactions offer a level of authenticity that virtual exchanges can't. Seeing someone's expressions and body language encourages trust and understanding which are crucial in any relationship. Connection and Engagement: Human connection thrives on personal interaction. Face-to-face meetings allow for deeper connections and the opportunity to bond which is a lot tougher to achieve in a timed video meeting. Cultural Understanding: Face-to-face meetings offer opportunities to bridge cultural gaps, understand nuances, and build mutual respect, enhancing collaboration and teamwork. Personal Touch: Whether it's a handshake, a pat on the back, or a genuine smile, face-to-face meetings add a personal touch that strengthens relationships and leaves a lasting impression. While virtual communication tools have revolutionized the way we connect, they should complement, not replace face-to-face interactions. Let me know if you have any difference in opinion or can think of other reasons face-to-face meetings are important!

Does the yapping ever stop?   We all been to them, or they appear in our calendar for some unknown reason. Those long, laborious meetings. Do some people just like the sound of their own voice? I recently had to attend a meeting to arrange a meeting!!!   So how do you reduce the white noise, that irrelevant or distracting information that dilutes the main objectives of the discussion? To be brutally honest, I’m not interested in your mother’s recipe for vegetable soup, but you couldn’t tell from my smile.   Donna McGeorge is an expert and the author of The 25 Minute Meeting: Half the Time, Double the Impact. She argues that, if done well, short meetings are “sharp and productive”. So what are the pointers?   Set a Clear Agenda Define the meeting's purpose and outline specific topics to be covered. Distribute it in advance, highlighting key discussion points and desired outcomes. This preparation ensures participants stay focused on relevant issues.   Establish Ground Rules Encourage attendees to speak concisely, avoid interruptions, and stay on topic. Politely steer the conversation back if it veers off course. For example, saying, "Let's return to our main agenda item," can redirect focus without stifling contributions.   Limit Attendees Invite only essential participants. Smaller groups foster more effective communication and reduce the likelihood of irrelevant discussions. Evaluate who truly needs to be present to achieve the meeting’s objectives.   Use Technology Wisely Utilise collaboration tools that enhance productivity. Shared documents, project management software, and video conferencing features can streamline communication and keep everyone aligned. However, avoid over-reliance on technology.   Time Management Allocate specific time slots for each agenda item and stick to them. Avoid extended discussions on minor points by Summarise key decisions and action items.   Encourage Active Participation Foster an environment where participants feel comfortable sharing ideas succinctly. Active engagement reduces the tendency for side conversations and ensures everyone contributes meaningfully.

The transition of online meetings has expropriated the role of more interactive face-to-face forms. It doesn’t only detached the physical presence of participants but also etiolated the productivity of meetings. Typically, only the first few hours of this type of meetings are bit productive, but attention and participation tend to diminish as time goes on. It has also ruled out the fecund discussion in the agenda, sharing ideas and productivity. Lack of physical presence also limits non-verbal communication, making it challenging to gauge reactions, emotions, and engagement. Prolonged exposure to screens also lead to eye strain and fatigue, while sitting for extended periods without physical movement also contribute to overall fatigue and loss of advertence. On the other hand, face-to-face meetings have proved to be instrumental in terms of in-person interactions, team building exercises, and strengthens connections. It provides a conducive environment for open discussions, brainstorming, and idea sharing. Face-to-face meetings also bring team from different operational contexts, allowing them to share their experiences, in terms of cultural dynamics, behaviours challenges, lessons learned, and best practices. It facilitates the exchange of technical knowledge and expertise among them. Most importantly, it strengthens team cohesion and fosters a sense of unity.

Navigating the virtual world as a manager? 🌐👨💼👩💼 Let's talk about successful meetings. Meetings are the heartbeat of every project. They're where ideas are born, plans are laid, and progress is tracked. But in a virtual setting, they can easily become a breeding ground for confusion and disengagement. Here's a radical idea: Treat your virtual meetings like a TV show. 📺 Why? Because TV shows are designed to grab and hold attention. They're concise, engaging, and most importantly, they don't waste your time. 1️⃣ Start with a "Previously on...". Begin each meeting by quickly recapping what was discussed in the last one. This helps everyone get up to speed and sets the stage for what's to come. 2️⃣ Then, roll out the "episode". This is your agenda. Be clear about the purpose of the meeting and what you hope to achieve. 3️⃣ Don't forget the "commercial breaks". Allow for short breaks in between different topics. This gives your team a chance to digest information and prevents Zoom fatigue. 4️⃣ Finally, end with a "Next time on...". Summarize what was accomplished and what's next on the agenda. This gives everyone a clear direction moving forward. Remember, your goal is to keep your team engaged and productive. So, make your meetings worth their time. Try this approach and watch your virtual meetings transform from a necessary evil to a powerful tool for collaboration and progress. 🚀 What's your take on this? Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Let's make virtual meetings better, together.

Virtual meetings are here to stay. Whether you love them or not, mastering them is crucial for effective collaboration. Here’s a quick guide to help you master your next virtual meeting: 1. Test Technology Ahead of Time Spend 15-20 minutes before the meeting to ensure everything works smoothly. Don’t let technical glitches waste precious time! 2. Meeting Timing Keep meetings to a max of one to two hours. Shorter, more frequent meetings are often more effective and less monotonous. 3. Turn on Video Make it a rule to use video. It enhances understanding through body language and makes the meeting more engaging. 4. Objectives and Agenda Always have a clear objective and a detailed agenda. This keeps everyone on track and ensures productive discussions. 5. Assign Roles Designate a timekeeper, note-taker, and tech support. Clear roles help manage the meeting efficiently and address issues promptly. 6. Use Icebreakers Start with a quick icebreaker to foster connectivity and bridge the distance gap. It makes a big difference in team engagement. If you're new to virtual meetings or a seasoned pro, I'd love to hear your tips and experiences. Share them in the comments.