Double-Purpose Engagement Strategy for Virtual Audiences

After sitting through one virtual session after another, most participants are craving some movement and variety! As a facilitator or trainer, it is my challenge to create ways to incorporate both, while addressing the learning goals. I tried something new this week and it worked so well!

Find a moment in your meeting or class when you want to emphasize one of the following points:

• multi-tasking doesn't work​
• focus is important (on a work project, goal, conversation, etc.)
• balancing two needs is tricky 
• a need to break complex tasks into separate parts​

Direct your participants to make clockwise circles on the floor with their right foot and keep it going. Then ask them to simultaneously use a finger to air write their first name in cursive. After a few seconds, ask them to chat in or share verbally how successful they were. Most of my participants admitted to a massive "FAIL."  Facilitate some discussion about why it was difficult.. Try it yourself right now!

The exercise allowed me to make a point, related to my content, about cognitive overload and also added a novel movement opportunity for my participants. 

As talent developers, we have the creative capacity to develop myriad ways to keep our audiences awake and engaged with the learning. I'd love to hear some of your successful strategies!

Looking for even more ideas? I am working with groups across the globe, sharing tips for how to make virtual sessions highly engaging. Contact me to explore what I can do for you. anne@caffeinatedlearning.com
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