Most virtual meeting systems offer a waiting room, where you can hold your participants until you are ready to begin.
It can put a lot of pressure on you to have to get started precisely at the advertised time. So thoughtful use of a virtual waiting room can provide a gentler start..
You don’t have to be a tech wizard to be a great online facilitator but you do need to have good tech skills.
You need to know just enough to ensure you don’t let technical shortcomings hamper your skills as an excellent facilitator. It’s not just about what you know, but how you bring the group along with you..
What works well online is not simply a matter of taking what works well offline and hoping for the best.
It’s not a bad idea for starters, as many principles are directly transferable. But you also need to be aware of what is possible and what’s not in each medium. As the context changes, so do the interactions..
