Work Together Anywhere

TIPS FOR ONLINE MEETINGSFacilitators

Note that a separate list of tips for participants follows this list.

IN ADVANCE

TECHNICAL/GENERAL CONCERNS

• Use video when possible.
• Use high-quality equipment, including noise-canceling headsets.
• Have a tech/tools back-up plan in case your tech fails.
• Assign someone to deal with tech challenges.
• Request that participants choose quiet locations.
• For video, request that participants have good lighting.
• Record your meetings for those who can’t attend.

INTERPERSONAL/FACILITATOR CONCERNS

• Select a facilitator to run the meeting and keep to a timed schedule.
• Prepare an agenda with guidelines re: time allotment.
• Ensure the agenda is accessible to all.
• Establish meeting etiquette.
• Welcome participants to arrive early or stay late for personal time.
• Reserve time for an end-of-meeting “parking lot”: when you attend to miscellaneous questions after the primary agenda has been covered.
• Plan how you will keep track of parking lot items during the meeting.
• Determine how participants can indicate they wish to speak. (With video meetings, this could be to raise one’s hand until acknowledged or to hold up a virtual meeting card [see next item]. With audio-only meetings, participants could use group chat or instant messaging to indicate they want to jump into the conversation; or they could just interrupt.)
• Building on the previous item, consider using virtual meeting cards to enable non-intrusive communication.
• Determine how you as facilitator will ...