Too many face-to-face meetings, workshops and conferences are bitterly disappointing. Poorly structured, ineptly hosted and devoid of either energy or results, they leave you wondering why the event took place at all.
And, particularly since the arrival of Covid, the same is true of online events.
Of course, we do know why these events take place.
What’s a good way to finish an online call and ensure that you end with a continued (or increased) sense of engagement, and bring a feeling of completion?
This is my adaptation of an activity I learned at a recent gathering of Oxford University alumni.
“We’re all familiar with emojis? Yes!
Turn-taking was and is a prominent part of a meeting, whether off-line or online.
When we used to meet face to face in the same rooms with each other, we all knew whose turn it was. It was always the turn of the next most confident or senior speaker – unless the meeting was facilitated to allow others to step in as part of the process. Establishing a talking order is…
Why should you include quick warmups at the start of online calls?
1 They help familiarise everyone with the technology. Then it’s less likely that people will feel excluded or marginalised.
For example, here’s a simple warmup which works well with larger groups…If the technology allows it, invite participants to…
You can easily get inventive with simple activities on Zoom. This picture from a London meeting of the Applied Improvisation Network illustrates a quick game, based on ‘Where’s Wally?’ and retitled for our gang as ‘Point to Peter’.
With everyone preferably in Gallery View or equivalent, the facilitator names one person and everyone points to the area of the screen in which that person appears.
How many times are you hearing apologies for poor use of technology during online calls?
‘Sorry, I haven’t quite got the hang of Zoom’. Well, we don’t want to hear it – for at least three good reasons.
1. I reckon that you really should have the hang of it by now. If you are creating training or learning sessions, particularly if they are paid-for, you need
