All Facilitation Tips

Digital whiteboards can quickly become chaotic. Structure your Miro or FigJam boards deliberately. Create clear sections for each activity, use frames to guide participants, and hide future content until needed. This reduces visual noise, keeps participants oriented, and ensures they focus on the current task. A well-organized board minimizes cognitive load and maximizes engagement in virtual workshops.

Leverage virtual backgrounds for a unique icebreaker. Instruct participants to choose a background that tells a story about them or a relevant topic. During introductions, each person briefly explains their choice. Others can guess the narrative before the reveal. This activity fosters shared understanding and builds rapport in virtual settings. It creates memorable interactions, energizing the group for subsequent tasks and strengthening team bonds through personal expression.

Energy is KEY remotely. Bring WAY more energy than in-person, don't be afraid to exaggerate.

Online, give 20% more explanations, 20% more enthusiasm, and have 20% more patience.

One for the whiteboard (Miro, Mural), another for video. See participants and check for confusion.

Have someone handle tech setup, timers, music, and difficulties that come up.

Plan 10-minute (or less) exercises. Online work is more mentally exhausting.

Curtail the agenda. Try to maximize at 4 hours per day for virtual sessions.

Encourage webcams. This helps you see if engagement is low or participants seem confused.

Tell people specifically where they should be looking. You can't see what others are viewing.