{"id":947,"date":"2020-09-12T14:34:27","date_gmt":"2020-09-12T21:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/?p=947"},"modified":"2020-09-12T14:34:29","modified_gmt":"2020-09-12T21:34:29","slug":"digital-facilitation-embrace-the-future-work-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/2020\/09\/digital-facilitation-embrace-the-future-work-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Facilitation &#8211; Embrace the Future Work Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/powerpointing-templates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Stock-Image-2-Digital-Facilitation-Primer-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Stock Image 2 - Digital Facilitation Primer\" class=\"wp-image-1408\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In the wake of global pandemics when meeting face to face is not possible, it\u2019s about facilitating workshops digitally, designing a formal agenda, and utilizing digital tools to ensure a productive virtual meeting. &nbsp;Digital Collaboration Platforms have been pivotal in the current scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a matter of fact, Digital Collaboration platforms have become a new norm and have forever&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/stream\/transformation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">transformed business<\/a>&nbsp;work environment.&nbsp; Digital Facilitation tools are extensively used by facilitators,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/stream\/change-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Change Management<\/a>&nbsp;consultants,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/stream\/organizational-design\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Organizational Development<\/a>&nbsp;practitioners, and learning professionals as a way to collaborate on workshops, events, change initiatives, and learning programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/flevypro\/virtual-work-digital-facilitation-primer-5224\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Digital Workshop Facilitation<\/a>&nbsp;can be categorized into the following 3 major types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Virtual Facilitation<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In this type of Digital Facilitation, a group collaborates remotely in real time but from different locations. &nbsp;Common tools used are Zoom, GoToMeeting etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Asynchronous Facilitation<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In this facilitation method, a facilitator leads participants remotely at a different time and place. Common tools include Email, Slack etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Face-to-Face Facilitation<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In Face-to-Face facilitation, a facilitator interacts with a group of people in the same workshop space, in person. &nbsp;Digital tools can be used in such a setup instead of flip charts and sticky notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/flevypro\/virtual-work-digital-facilitation-primer-5224\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Slide-Deck-Image-Virtual-Work-Digital-Facilitation-Primer.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The new scenario brings forth new challenges in workshop facilitation that necessitate robust principles, methods, and tools for the future work environment to run smoothly.&nbsp; Understanding and adhering to the following best practices and principles in Digital Workshop Facilitation helps in attaining effective results just like face-to-face workshops:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Specify well-defined guidelines and expectations.<\/li><li>Form an assured environment to enable discourse.<\/li><li>Ensure effective interaction before, during, and after a workshop.<\/li><li>Ensure all voices are heard.<\/li><li>Document the conversations.<\/li><li>Alter the moderation approach based on the participants\u2019 level of understanding.<\/li><li>Seek comments and iterate.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Let us delve a little deeper into some of the principles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Specify well-defined guidelines and expectations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The remote nature of digital workshops limits the element of reacting to audience\u2019s lack of attention.&nbsp; This warrants clear instructions regarding ground rules, both in writing and orally to compensate for this disadvantage.&nbsp; Participants need to use precise language in asking questions and answering them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instructions on technology and tools usage should be reiterated from time to time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Form an assured environment to enable discourse.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trusting participants in a virtual setting is difficult if you do not know them.&nbsp; It is the digital facilitator\u2019s job to create conversation security in different ways.&nbsp; Spending time on icebreakers or other pre-engagement activities may ease the discomfort.&nbsp; Providing quick and positive feedback to those who actively contribute encourages shy participants and creates a positive environment.&nbsp; Informing the participants on how meetings are being documented and information on who has access to this documentation can reassure participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Ensure effective interaction before, during, and after a workshop.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Digital Facilitation platform can be used ahead of a meeting to help participants familiarize with each other, disseminate the agenda, initiate discussions, or obtain helpful information from the participants, such as questions, skill levels, ideas, etc. &nbsp;Digital Collaboration Platform should be the center of post-workshop activities, e.g., sharing documents, closing agendas, answering additional queries, and extended discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Ensure all voices are heard.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Digital Workshop tools can facilitate participation of people who in a traditional workshop setup will not be able to participate due to dominance by a few individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interested in learning more about the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/flevypro\/virtual-work-digital-facilitation-primer-5224\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Digital Workshop Facilitation principles, methods, and tools<\/a>? You&nbsp;can download&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/flevypro\/virtual-work-digital-facilitation-primer-5224\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">an editable PowerPoint on&nbsp;<strong>Virtual Work Digital Facilitation (Primer)<\/strong>&nbsp;here&nbsp;<\/a>on the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flevy documents marketplace<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Are you a Management Consultant?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can download this and hundreds of other&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/flevy.com\/pro\/library\/frameworks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">consulting frameworks<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/flevy.com\/pro\/library\/consulting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">consulting training guides<\/a>&nbsp;from the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/flevy.com\/pro\/library\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FlevyPro library<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the wake of global pandemics when meeting face to face is not possible, it\u2019s about facilitating workshops digitally, designing a formal agenda, and utilizing digital tools to ensure a productive virtual meeting. &nbsp;Digital Collaboration Platforms have been pivotal in the current scenario. As a matter of fact, Digital Collaboration platforms have become a new [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[659,277,242,655,653,654,656,658,543,660,657],"class_list":["post-947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-asynchronous-facilitation","tag-business-transformation","tag-change-management","tag-digital-collaboration-platform","tag-digital-facilitation","tag-digital-facilitation-platform","tag-digital-workshop-facilitation","tag-face-to-face-facilitation","tag-organizational-design","tag-organizational-development","tag-virtual-facilitation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=947"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":956,"href":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/947\/revisions\/956"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}