Delivering Webinars - Being 100% Present and Connected

Most trainers now have no choice about whether to deliver training via live virtual sessions.

If you are delivering live webinars do you always feel you are 100% present and connected to your audience?

Do you think they feel 100% connected to you? Have you asked them? That’s something you may want to try.

Consider all your experience as a face to face trainer – think about all the things you do to create a successful, vibrant learning event when you deliver training in a classroom environment. What are some of the little things you do that people probably never notice, that you know make a huge difference to the quality of the learning?

How do you create rapport and a working relationship with each group?
How do you help learners get the learning outcomes when they are struggling?

Think about all the tools, tricks, facilitation techniques, quotes and exercises you have in your tool bag gathered over years of experience that you can instantly draw on and use in a face to face environment.

The challenge with virtual training is, as a trainer or facilitator, being able to bring all your experience and skill to the live virtual event. To do that you need to be 100% present and connected.

To begin to be present and connected you need to be aware of what might draw you away or distract you. There are lots of them and they can be split into 3 main categories:

1. The virtual learner experience. You have to be aware of what the learners can see, what their experience is and what may be a distraction for them. Consider what is happening on their screen, their experience of you and your content. There is also everything within their environment (probably be their home) that will be drawing them away to some degree or other.

2. Your experience in the moment - this is a big one. There are a multitude of things to be aware of when you are delivering live virtual sessions such as the webinar software, your technology (hard and soft), your content, your focus on driving engagement, you may be using some third party software like Mentimeter or Miro, you will have notes, timings, what is coming up next  – the list goes on. And of course you will have distractions from your environment too – which also will probably be your home (yapping dog, noises outside, children….).

3. Your connection with the learners. If you do not feel 100% connected this will distract you – consciously or unconsciously. This is something that trainers can find difficult and elusive. We so often hear people say “How can I connect when I can’t see them”, “How do I know if they are engaged if there no one is talking or typing or doing anything?”.

Really the only question you should be asking yourself is “Am I connected with my learners - if not why not? What is getting in the way of me being 100% present for them and connected to them.”

If you want to be really present and connected with your live virtual audience - start a list of where you think you could be more competent. Use the three pointers above as a guide.

Once you start becoming more aware of your learners’ experience, your experience and the level of connection you have with your learners - you will be more present and connected. Consequently you will be able to use all your years of experience as a trainer or presenter – probably fine-tuned for a live virtual environment.

We have had the privilege of working with 100’s of trainers, some of them with 30+ years’ experience – helping them upskill to achieve what they used to do in a room in a live virtual environment.

There is nothing you can’t achieve online in a live virtual session – and often you can do it even better. If you want to start delivering live virtual sessions and believe that you can’t achieve what you used to do face to face, or if you are delivering live online sessions but are not happy with the quality and know you can do better – get in touch for a chat with one of our experts. We will get you 100% present and connected on your live virtual sessions.

Find out more here or call and speak to one of our friendly team on 0044 (0)1452 886556 or email enquiries@emailogic.com