Mastering online meeting moderation: elevate your virtual interactions
Blog | Joost post series #09
In our latest blog post, Joost Drieman—our esteemed senior certified coach and business advisor with over 35 years of experience—dives deep into the art of moderating online meetings. As part of our ongoing series "Building a Healthy Work Environment," Joost sheds light on how effective moderation can turn your virtual gatherings into powerful platforms for growth and development.
Why Moderation Matters
Moderating isn't just about steering conversations—it's about creating a space where dialogue thrives. A skilled moderator ensures that discussions are productive, respectful, and engaging. Whether it's a webinar, team meeting, or live online discussion, the role of the moderator is pivotal. They set the tone, guide the conversation, and make sure every voice is heard.
In the digital realm, this task becomes even more crucial. Without the benefit of body language and immediate feedback, online moderation presents unique challenges. But with the right approach, you can turn these challenges into opportunities for impactful interaction.
Navigating the Challenges of Online Moderation
Online meetings come with their own set of hurdles:
Lack of Non-Verbal Cues: Without face-to-face interaction, subtle cues like body language and facial expressions are missing, which can lead to misunderstandings.
Anonymity Issues: The impersonal nature of online platforms can sometimes encourage rudeness or trolling.
Delayed Responses: In asynchronous settings, such as forums, replies can be delayed, impacting the flow of the discussion.
Essential Moderation Skills
To excel in moderating online meetings, you'll need to hone several key skills:
Clear Communication: Articulate ideas and summaries effectively, and ensure rules are understood.
Empathy and Patience: Understand diverse viewpoints and remain patient, especially during technical glitches or heated debates.
Problem-Solving: Quickly address technical or interpersonal issues to maintain smooth discussion flow.
Decisiveness: Make prompt decisions to realign discussions or resolve conflicts.
However, engaging participants in a digital setting can be tricky. With cameras off and distractions looming, many are passively listening rather than actively contributing. Here are 10 tips to ensure your online meetings are vibrant and productive:
Tips for Effective Online Moderation
Have you ever tried the following? Instead of asking: “who would like to comment on this?” or “Is there anybody who has a suggestion?”, just say: “John, what is your opinion on this?” or “Lucy, would you agree with what Julia just said?”. By asking people by their name, you force them to answer. (By the way, it is also a nice way of finding out if the person you call has been listening. If he or she was occupied with something else, please do not be afraid to remind this person in a gentle, yet corrective way to focus on the meeting topics.) So my first tip: Directly address participants by name to encourage engagement and ensure they are following the conversation.
9 more tips:
Camera On: Require cameras to be on throughout the meeting to improve interaction and focus.
Microphone Off: Have participants mute their microphones to minimize background noise and improve concentration.
Interactive Tools: Incorporate polls, quizzes, and questionnaires to actively involve attendees.
Breakout Sessions: Use breakout rooms for smaller group discussions to increase participation and engagement.
Visual Aids: Enhance discussions with presentations, videos, and graphics to keep content dynamic.
Preparation: Ask participants to prepare a few slides on relevant topics to boost involvement and interest.
Feedback and Acknowledgment: Regularly provide feedback and recognize contributions to encourage ongoing participation.
Timely Follow-Ups: Summarize discussions, ask follow-up questions, and schedule additional calls to maintain momentum.
Flexibility: Accommodate different time zones and offer various meeting times to ensure accessibility for all.
Pro-Tip: Some of these skills and attitudes apply for asynchronous communication as well, such as chats or discussion forums in your intranet. Excel as online moderator of all communication threads – whether synchronous or not – and form a place for growth and development.
The Golden Nugget
Create a respectful and inclusive environment. This foundation is essential for fostering productive and engaging online interactions.
Conclusion
Effective moderation of online meetings requires a blend of skills, strategies, and the right technology. By setting clear expectations, using interactive elements, and fostering an inclusive atmosphere, you can turn virtual discussions into powerful tools for growth and development.
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