Intro
Today's
topic is about making online or virtual training and groups relational. I do a
lot of online training and groups virtually.
The conversation often arises about comparing and
contrasting virtual or online training and groups versus in-person. The reason
I'm writing this blog is to help provide tips and focus on ways to make online
or virtual training and groups/communities more relational. Building rapport
intentionally and strategically.
The
challenge is that many people compare the effectiveness of online or virtual
training in groups versus in-person. Instead of seeing it as a challenge let's
focus on the opportunity at hand that the online or virtual space provides us to
connect to people erasing or minimizing geographical or other barriers that
might hinder or negate the experience. Conversation now is not what I have to
do because it's virtual or online training but what do I get to do to connect
and relate to people in a way that's meaningful, influential, impactful, and
authentic in this space? The effectiveness is not based on whether the training
or the group is being held online or virtually versus in person but more so on how
the instructor or facilitator can relate to the audience and participants.
The key
ingredient for success it's not the platform but the rapport building. The
platform is an opportunity to connect, share, and above all relate. You are
relating the information to the participants and audience, you're relating
yourself to the information you're sharing, and you're building a relational
transaction. Rapport building is all about connecting and connection. It goes
from sharing information to enabling transformation, and you are helping to
facilitate and navigate this experience.
Being Present
How do you
show up? This is an important question when talking about training connection with groups and community. To show up you must be present. What does
being present look like? Sound like? Feel like? A big part of this experience
and what you take away from this experience is how you show up to this
experience. As an instructor or facilitator, a participant or audience member,
virtual/online or in-person being present adds meeting and worth to the
experience. When you show up to this virtual or online space how present are
you? If you're not on camera, you're multitasking, or distracted how can you be
present? Robert, how does that impact or influence me being present? It hinders
your ability to be aware, focus, connect, or receive the experience on a higher
level. Your input will affect your output. Your investment will affect your
results. You have a choice. You choose to be present or not to be present. What
you decide will determine your outcome.
One tip I
often share with instructors and facilitators is to stop sharing your
PowerPoint and screen so that you can monitor, interact, engage, and connect
with your audience. Another tip is to pause after you ask a question to allow
your audience the opportunity to absorb, digest, process, and comprehend the
information you're sharing. You can also invite and involve your participants
using different methods such as chat, unmuting, reaction buttons, or just
kinesthetically moving around. All help create a space and environment
conducive to people participating, being, and feeling present.
Engagement
Engagement
and interaction are not lost in a virtual or online space or community. It's
just different. Your awareness of this fact is critical to your results. As an instructor and facilitator, engagement
is your responsibility to allow opportunities for your participants and
audience to be engaged. Participants and audience members are responsible for
taking the call to action to engage and be engaged on various levels. We just
talked about being present, being present positions, and postures you for
engagement.
Engagement
is more than just paying attention or just asking questions. Any questions? Your thoughts? Crickets. Engagement
is about being relational with the content, the instructor or facilitator, the
environment and space, and above all with you. How do information, people, space, and the environment, impact or influence you? How will you use this
experience for your betterment overall? So, the question is not am I engaged in
this virtual online training and community but how can I engage in this virtual
online training and community?
Here are a
few tips for engagement. For instructors and facilitators, providing dialogue,
discussion, digestion, and demonstration of the content and information
throughout the training and within the community invites participation,
interaction, and yes engagement. Allow dialogue not a monologue to build
competence, confidence, skills, and development. Ask participants and audience
members questions in the context of how the information can and can't be used
in various ways to gain insight and comprehension of the tools and resources
being provided. Using virtual and online tools and resources to be engaged.
Create opportunities that are memorable and stand out whether it be an aha
moment, fun, or self-reflection. Engagement
provides space for building, connecting, and being a bridge to form
relationships and become relational intentionally and strategically.
Tools and Resources
Using
different tools and resources in a virtual or online training and community can
be helpful to participants and audience members. As an instructor or
facilitator explore how different tools and resources work so that you can
share and cultivate a greater experience, impact, and an opportunity to be
relational. Whatever virtual format you use look at how the features can be
used as tools and resources that positively and effectively impact your
participants and audience, as well as, their experience. For tools and
resources to be effective and efficient they must be used effectively and
efficiently. Learning new skills in a virtual environment in a community builds
confidence and competence in the process.
By using
tools and resources in a virtual or online environment it builds trust and
credibility. It demonstrates and displays an instructor and facilitator's
willingness to connect, help, and support participants and audience members.
Audience members and participants become empowered, encouraged, and enriched by
using tools and resources. This interaction and sharing builds relationships.
It builds trust. It shifts the training into an experience. People remember their
experiences. Experiences are meaningful and engaging.
Practice
It's
important to practice skills and information before leaving the online or
virtual space. Practice allows for the opportunity to interact and share ways
to use and implement information. Instructors
and facilitators should implement practice in the virtual and online space to
gain confidence and competence and include and invite participants and audience
members into a safe, supportive, and impactful environment. Practice using virtual
tools and resources to become effective, proficient, efficient, and skilled
within the online virtual space.
By helping
participants and audience members to practice within the virtual online space
it helps reduce stress, fears, and negative perceptions of the virtual online
space. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people at the end of class be
amazed at how good of a time they had in the training in the virtual or online
space. It may be helpful for facilitators and instructors to not say I would
rather be in person when you are currently in a virtual or online space. Many
people have reservations about connecting virtually or online because it may be
new to them, or they haven't had a good experience. As an instructor or facilitator,
you have no control over how or why people come to your virtual or online
training or group, however, you do have an impact influence in how they leave, and
the experience that you introduced them to.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, virtual or online training and groups can be very relational. Building
rapport must be intentional and strategic.
You as an instructor and facilitator have a great opportunity to be
present and assist your participants and audience members to be more connected
and present by how you set up the experience through your level of engagement.
By using virtual and online tools and resources, engagement and interaction can
create an environment conducive to being fun and relational. Practicing using the tools, resources, and
skills will provide connection and demonstration of the content and people in
the space. Try these tips and let me
know how you incorporated them into your virtual or online training and groups. Your virtual online training and groups will
never be the same!
For
additional information, training, or facilitating online or virtually you can reach
me at Robert@WilsonGos.com.
