Virtual facilitation methods

Leading online meetings requires different facilitation skills than in-person ones. Facilitators need to actively manage both the technical and human aspects of virtual meetings to ensure everyone can participate fully.

Key facilitation techniques for virtual meetings include:

• Setting the structure: Starting with clear ground rules about how the group will work together online
• Managing participation: Creating specific moments to check for input rather than waiting for people to jump in
• Balancing voices: Tracking who's speaking and who isn't, actively inviting quiet participants into the discussion
• Reading virtual body language: Watching for signs of engagement or confusion through screens
• Pacing the discussion: Breaking content into smaller chunks with more frequent check-ins

Remember that virtual facilitation is more tiring for everyone. Plan shorter segments, more breaks, and varied activities to keep energy up.^[1]