Virtual facilitation is a powerful tool in the L&D arsenal to provide training sessions that are accessible and scalable. It address requires a different set abilities to ensure that participants are engaged in a sense of connection and participate in productive discussions with their peers. This article outlines 10 guidelines to energize online facilitation to ensure that trainers are able to lead online training sessions.

Just like in any workshop the facilitator sets the tone for the workshop by demonstrating positive communication behaviors and creating a productive environment. This means you must avoid distracting noises, make sure the camera is aimed at the person in question and provide positive feedback signals, such as smiling and nodding. It is also important to keep the conversation short and clear. It also involves ensuring that there is a balance of information sharing discussions, group discussions and interactive activities such as quick polls or game-like experiences. Encourage participants to engage in conversation throughout the workshop and utilize gaming response systems such as Kahoot to get them involved.

Knowing how the group is feeling is a must in any meeting, but it’s especially essential when conducting meetings remotely. Regularly check in with participants to see how they feel and if there are any problems. You may need to add a new game to stimulate the group if energy levels begin to decrease.

SessionLab is a powerful tool to use for designing and planning remote workshops. It will help you ensure that your sessions are enjoyable and effective, even if you’re not with your participants. It’s an excellent choice for meetings and workshops that are online. It includes a library that includes more than 1000 facilitation tools that are expertly designed as well as a fully-featured templates and built-in tools that help cut down on distractions and cross-talk.