7 Things You MUST Consider When Running an Online Networking Event or Workshop

STOP! Are you Making Mistakes When You Are Running Online Events?

Life has changed. Before the current CoVid-19 restrictions, you used to enjoy running “ in real time” workshops and business networking events, and even your regular online webinars and team meetings were enjoyable. Now you find yourself constantly attached to your screen with no alternative, so it is easy to feel drained and exhausted at the end of the session and you are not engaging as you would like too.

How you run your sessions and events now, needs to be adapted. Everyone is spending so much more time online, that you need to take that into account in your planning.

There is no doubt that now is a great time for professional and personal development. It is also a good time to share insights, and is an opportunity to learn and share knowledge -key components of YTM events

Whilst I have always resisted running online events, as I advocate face to face, real life interaction, I have had to adapt in order to support and connect with my community. Thankfully I can call on my past experience as a teacher to improve the way my online events are run and participants get real value for the time they invest. Hopefully, they still leave the meeting feeling energised and inspired. I encourage you to read on, and reflect on and review my approach , as it may help you move forward with your online programs and events.

Create interesting business conversations

I believe there is enormous value in bringing together like-minded people who can not only leverage their relationships, but also benefit from listening, discussing and questioning each other. Different approaches and perspectives create interesting conversations and thought-provoking reflections. Sharing information provides opportunities for people to make informed choices about what to change, when to change and sometimes whether to change at all. You need to tap into all these resources that are available.

What I learnt through my teaching experience is that is so important to realise we are all individuals and we all have individual learning styles. How do you prefer to learn?

Whenever I am preparing a talk, presentation or event, I take the different styles into account because in every room there is sure to be a mix of participants operating from the different styles: visual, auditory, kinesthetic or verbal. Can you identify your preferred style? There is a lot you can access on the Internet on the subject of learning styles, and of course many excellent books available from the library when you can once again visit.

Apart from learning styles , recognise you are wanting to engage people, who each bring with them their own personalities, experiences, and distractions (particularly in today’s climate) so you need to create a place of safety and certainty.

Preparing for Your Online Event

The following tips should be addressed in your planning:-

1. Be over-prepared. Think through the consequences and issues you may face. Make sure technology is on your side as best you can. Consider what you will do if you have video lag…perhaps turn off the visuals, make sure you have a back up plan. If you are running a session with more than 10- 15 people, it is advisable to have a co-host to help you. The co-host can respond to the chat box, assist in management of the session. and generally add another energetic force. Perhaps they can even welcome people to the session, prior to the main host taking commencing.

   You could even send out material by email prior to the event, so that your participants could call in or use email.

2. Have a tight structure. At the start of the session, briefly run through the aim and objective of the session. Outline the format and the outcomes you are anticipating. Control the conversation by muting everyone and ask  individuals to respond when it is their turn or they raise their hand in so avoiding talking over each other.

3. Inject personality and energy. Be authentically you. Be Human… you may need to work twice as hard to express. It is very easy to focus more on what we have to say, rather than how we are saying it or how it is landing with your group. Prepare what you need to say so that it becomes auto pilot and then you can use your energy to connect with your audience, rather than remember what you need to say or what comes next. 

4. Encourage shared learning and foster collaboration. You need to encourage interaction. and involvement. Use the chat box. Allow time for Q & A. Ask the group questions and have them respond. Recognise you do not know everything, and allow others to respond. Call for opinions.

5. Avoid information Overload. If you are using a power point presentation, keep the slides simple and to the point.

6. Manage the time. Depending on the content and purpose of your session, it may be better to have two parts tot he session, rather than running for 2 or more hours. In the events, that I run, the event is divided into segments each with a different purpose. Some times the participants have a chance to speak, followed by an insight, followed by Q &A opportunities and personal reflection time plus and break out rooms for group discussion. By changing up the activities , it is possible to cater for the range of learning styles and also takes the pressure of the facilitator.

7. RELAX and enjoy the connection. If something does not go according to plan, relax.  Especially in today’s climate people will be forgiving, and possibly even inspired that you are willing to give it a go.

So tell me, what types of online events and sessions do you attend, and what has made some better than others? I’d love to know.

If this has been a valuable insight, please like and share .

Kerryn Powell, the founder and creator of Your Time Matters and The Network Catalyst, makes your every conversation count by transforming business networking so professionals can access support, insights and connect with confidence, and opportunities.