Whether it's a virtual team meeting or an interactive webinar, connecting people early in your virtual events can make a big difference, signalling that something  "out of the ordinary" might lay ahead. This is key given the default "Death by Conference Call" mode many virtual listeners slip into as the calls sarts.

Here are 10 quick warm-up ideas to get your next virtual session moving a little differently.

#1 - Get people to locate on a map where they are calling in from.

#2 - Create a word puzzle for people to engage with

#3  - Show some trivia and have people guess the answer (or the source)

#4 - Create a video about the topic you are speaking about. This month at the Learning Lab and Design Studio (an annual program I run for learning professionals of all kinds - facilitators, coaches, and leaders) we're exploring video based learning, and group members are actually going to create their own videos in our next call.

 #5 - Create a quiz

#6 - Show a brain twister or spot the difference

#7 - Have a question or prompt on the screen which people can engage with or reflect on

#8 -  Get people to mindmap all their ideas about the topic

#9 - Share a photo related to the topic

#10 - Have a quick list of books, podcast or videos on the topic

What will help you start your next call off a little differently so that people know that it's not going to be "Death by Conference call".

Please share your ideas in the comments below.

Enjoy!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPT
Author of several books including: PlanDoTrack (2019), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Effective Group Coaching (2010)
Potentials Realized  - Specializing in support to virtual and remote teams, leaders and entrepreneurs
Award-winning Coaching Skills Training
Connect with us by Phone: (416)996-8326

Are you a subscriber to my new monthly newsletter on all things virtual? I sent out our September Virtual newsletter last week and have enjoyed hearing from many readers.

This month's newsletter includes:

1. A new article - this one on five ways to use annotation
   
2. Upcoming program announcements - The Virtual Facilitation Essentials program starts Monday October 2nd, and the next Mentor Coaching Group for ICF credentialing starts Monday September 25th
3. Links to articles and resources I have published elsewhere including this summer's article on 6 Core Skills you need for Virtual Group Coaching Conversations in the Coaching Tools Newsletter

If you are not a subscriber I hope that you will join us on the list as it will include special items - discounts, templates and other resources - which are offered first through the newsletter. Join us on the list here.

Enjoy your week! The next Community Call is Monday September 25th at 11:05 am Eastern/New York when I cover six virtual activities - learn more at the Community Calls page. Hope that you will join us!

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats.
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Phone: (416)996-8326

​You can grab a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon. You can also purchase a copy direct from our site, signed by me!