#teams365 #1025: Virtual Facilitation Tip #12

Having a variety of go to openers is key in setting the stage for an engaging and effective virtual conversation. As I mentioned earlier this week, people remember the start and end of things. Several options for openers include"

• Having people note on a map where they are calling in from
  
• Having people share verbally, through chat or on the white board their response to the question: “What do you want to get out of the conversation?”
• Having people share their response to the question: My focus today is…

Key areas you will want to focus on in the first part of your call includes:

• A welcome
  
• Introductions - Having group members find degrees of connection can be very useful and is critical in starting to establish trust and safety within the group. The lower the level of connection the more apt tricky issues are to emerge
  
• An overview of where you are going during your time
  
• What people can expect

In addition to these topics it can also be important to have group members identify what is important for their learning (why they are there and what they want to get out of it) and what is meaningful for their learning experience (i.e. how do they learn best, or what application opportunities they will find)

As you consider your opener, what will it look like? What additional research do you want to do.

Have a great weekend,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Phone: (416)996-8326
Check out our f Foundations of Teamwork on-demand course here

Join us in November for the 5 week Virtual Facilitation Essentials online learning program. We've taken some of the core "essentials" of our longer virtual train-the-trainer and packaged it into a shorter course. Join me live starting November 1st. More info here.