Strategies For Successfully Going Virtual (Part 3 of 3)

​Be careful what you wish for!  Using a virtual collaboration platform that allows for bi-directional audio and supports webcams may sound like the ideal option.  Let’s call this Level Three.  In a Level Three scenario, you will want to give thoughtful consideration to how you will integrate the remaining two actions – before your session begins… 

Before integrating these techniques, ensure you have implemented the strategies in Part 1 of 3 and in Part 2 of 3.  The following recommendations are intended to build on the earlier suggestions.

• Use precise questioning to reduce your air time.  The 101 tip would be to ask open-ended questions; but the master-level strategy is to craft questions that result in participants making your planned remarks for you.  If participants can speak, many will want to.  Your job then becomes leading them to say the things you want brought into the discussion.  
• Think twice about using webcams.  They can bring back the nonverbal elements that are otherwise lost in virtual deliveries…but only if the presenter is skilled at webcam delivery.  Think of the stiff, awkward mannerisms seen in many news broadcast interviews.  And, even if you are at ease on camera, what will your participants actually be seeing?  Will you be leveraging nonverbal cues effectively, or will participants watch your eyes scan your monitor and workspace as you refer to chats, speaker notes, raised hands, the visuals you are annotating, and so on?  Also consider what might be happening on other people’s webcams if activated – both participants’ behaviors and potential activity behind them as well.  The visual element will be powerful; the question becomes will it be positively powerful or powerfully distracting? 

​After a few years and seemingly countless virtual deliveries, Kimberly now enjoys this medium as much as face-to-face engagements – and participants are responding similarly, with comments like: “You are a fantastic webinar facilitator! You have a lovely balance of professionalism, a sunny disposition, humor, and knowledge.”  Use her six strategies in this three-part blog series to make the most of your virtual sessions too!