I spend a lot of time working with other trainers, caoches and leaders in helping them create more engaging and effective virtual learning. in the first decade plus of my career I spent a lot of time on the road, in the sky, in the field. As technology started emerging in the late 1990s with the advent of the internet I was keen on seeing how we could leverage tools and platforms for not only learning but also team development. Since 2004, when I started Potentials REalized, a bulk of our training and learning programs have been delivered virtually. In some months of the year - like July and August - a 100% of our programming with teams and groups is done virtually.
Creating engaging and effective virtual learning environments is an art form as well as a science. In the next few weeks we'll be looking more in-depth at virtual facilitation - skills, best practices, platforms etc.
Today's post starts with some of the core virtual facilitation skills. What do we need to bring to the table in order to create more interactive, and engaging learning events, meetings and team sessions?
Here's a list of some of the top skills which help to make a virtual facilitators shine:
* Flexibility and adaptability (to navigate things that probably won't work the way you think they will)
* Process facilitation skills
* Exceptional communication skills - clear, concise, ability to adapt the message for different audiences
* Listening skills - being able to listen for the nuances, energy, distinctions and synergies in groups which are remote and often multi-cultural
*Creating connection with group/team members virtually
* An understanding of different cultures
* Being a great host - there's an important host function as a virtual facilitator
* Confidence and knowledge of their presence (and the ability to be a chameleon)
* Strong observational skills and ability to integrate multiple pieces of information
* Technical skills with different platforms
and while it is not a skill, a robust toolkit!
What else do you see as core skills for virtual facilitators?
With best wishes,
Jennifer
Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Check out our newest on-demand course: Teams365 Teamwork Foundations
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Looking for more tips and ideas to support you in your work as a leader? Sign up for our monthly newsletter, full of tips, resources and hacks for leaders and team members looking to realize their potential. Sign up at http://bit.ly/teams365news
Creating engaging and effective virtual learning environments is an art form as well as a science. In the next few weeks we'll be looking more in-depth at virtual facilitation - skills, best practices, platforms etc.
Today's post starts with some of the core virtual facilitation skills. What do we need to bring to the table in order to create more interactive, and engaging learning events, meetings and team sessions?
Here's a list of some of the top skills which help to make a virtual facilitators shine:
* Flexibility and adaptability (to navigate things that probably won't work the way you think they will)
* Process facilitation skills
* Exceptional communication skills - clear, concise, ability to adapt the message for different audiences
* Listening skills - being able to listen for the nuances, energy, distinctions and synergies in groups which are remote and often multi-cultural
*Creating connection with group/team members virtually
* An understanding of different cultures
* Being a great host - there's an important host function as a virtual facilitator
* Confidence and knowledge of their presence (and the ability to be a chameleon)
* Strong observational skills and ability to integrate multiple pieces of information
* Technical skills with different platforms
and while it is not a skill, a robust toolkit!
What else do you see as core skills for virtual facilitators?
With best wishes,
Jennifer
Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Check out our newest on-demand course: Teams365 Teamwork Foundations
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Looking for more tips and ideas to support you in your work as a leader? Sign up for our monthly newsletter, full of tips, resources and hacks for leaders and team members looking to realize their potential. Sign up at http://bit.ly/teams365news
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