Remember the times we used to attend/conduct classroom training programs? Strangely enough, it has a queer nostalgia to it. The world has taken a sharp virtual turn and classroom training sessions have been shunned in most part of the world. Virtual facilitation, while providing abundant opportunities for reaching a global audience, has its own challenges.
A facilitator is essentially someone who aids one/multiple groups to make tasks easier. Indeed, they do this by guiding and mentoring the groups or individuals and bringing out the best in them. Regardless of the pandemic situation, virtual facilitation had been growing increasingly popular considering the remotely located teams within an organization. Moreover, virtual facilitation has tons of added benefits to it. For instance, they are considerably cost-effective and you may avail access to a wider global audience. Furthermore, it is simpler for logistical teams and very convenient to build a common culture for your organization across the world.
Certainly, there are ostensible challenges to it as well. The primary conundrum most facilitators face on a virtual platform is a set of technical issues — ranging from poor internet connectivity to audio disturbance or poor video quality. Traditional facilitators face another major challenge, which is the unavailability of whiteboards and flip-charts to elaborate their ideas. However, presentations can be shared on screen. With revolutionary training methods like using simulations or games, the problem of whiteboards and charts is resolved. Solutions like Diamonds of Amazonia or Accelium, offered by SimuRise, provide a brilliant set of game reports and analysis to work with.
If you have taken a virtual turn in your training sessions, here are some key points to remember:
1. Silence is Golden
A moment of silence in a virtual session seems awkward which leads to facilitators trying to fill the silence with irrelevant or arbitrary content. But remember, pauses are just as significant as your words. Take a breath, let your audience take a breath. You are delivering information through a virtual environment, give your audience some time to register it. Give them a 5-minutes break if your event is lasting for over two hours.
- Be the Lead
With numerous participants listening to you at their own pace (according to their internet connectivity and other challenges), you will have quite a few participants interrupt you with pestering doubts or irrelevant conversations. Be firm and ask them to hold their doubts for a Q&A session later. Be in charge.
3. Converse
One of the major challenges in virtual facilitation is audience engagement. A remote speaker does not get as much attention and intrigue as a classroom facilitator does. So, keep them engaged! Immerse them in the event, ask for feedback, conduct multiple Q&A sessions to clear their doubts, converse with your audience. It enhances your showmanship and thus, an overall learning experience as well.
- Dry Run
If you are trailblazing your virtual journey, ensure that you know the platform you would be using on a profound level. Know how to change settings, share screens, help participants and create breakout rooms if needed. And of course, don’t overdo with the features. Keep the usage to a bare minimum, it helps the newer audience settle quickly.
Finally, use unique tools to gain deeper insights about your participants while you immerse them in an engaging session. A game-based learning session works like a charm and provides an incredible level of engagement subsequently aiding the participants learn and grasp quicker. Simulate your Rise!
