If your business, like many others throughout the United States and the world, is experiencing changes to your operations due to COVID-19, we are here to help. One of the best ways to stay engaged with your employees is through virtual meetings. There are thousands of businesses who work remotely 100% of the time, so with a little practice, it can be done! Here are some of our best tips to help you facilitate an effective virtual meeting.
Set Ground Rules
First, set some ground rules for your virtual meetings. It’s a good idea to determine what technology works best for all employees and test it out in advance. Always use a phone line that is clear and stable. Never attempt to multi-task during the meeting, and set up an order of speaking to ensure everyone has time to talk without cutting one another off. Encourage your employees to attend the meeting in a quiet space and press the mute button whenever they are not speaking. An effective virtual meeting relies on everyone working together.
Go Beyond the Agenda
An effective virtual meeting requires more than just the agenda that lists which topics will be covered. To get the most out of your time together, you should outline the meeting purpose, necessary materials, roles and scheduling in advance. At a minimum, your roles should include:
- Facilitator: Outlines and facilitates the meeting
- Tech Support: Someone on standby to help with any tech issues individually or as a group
- Note Taker: Keeps notes throughout the meeting and emails them, along with any tasks decided upon, at the conclusion of the meeting
- Timekeeper: Tracks the meeting progress and reminds everyone of the time at critical points
Start with an Icebreaker
An icebreaker or quick check-in is the best way to start an effective virtual meeting. Everyone gets a chance to get settled, test microphone volume and create a positive atmosphere before the content of the meeting starts. Virtual icebreakers can be just as fun as traditional in-person ones!
Collaborate as a Team
During the meeting, encourage collaborative problem solving. When a meeting just consists of reading numerous reports that were emailed out before the session began, it can be boring and leave everyone feeling like it was a waste of time. If you encourage collaboration, it will foster an effective virtual meeting where all participants feel valued.
Want to grow your skills? Attend one of our upcoming workshops!
Have a Team that Needs to Conduct Effective Virtual Meetings? Contact Us for Group Pricing and a Customized Session.
Zenith Performance Solutions wants to transform the ways that you and your employees learn. We offer a comprehensive range of training course design services, including updating existing courses and consulting. We work with companies of every size to create innovative and instructionally sound materials that boost employee performance and satisfy your objectives. To learn more, please contact us by calling (970) 409-4013.