Holding a virtual meeting can be nerve-wracking for both the organizer and the attendees. It’s pretty typical for virtual meetings to feel a little stiffer and less relaxed than in-person meetings. People are also less likely to make comments when meeting virtually because they feel intimidated or out of place. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
With some extra preparation and thought, it is possible to make your next virtual team meeting more productive than you ever thought possible. Using a Google Meet virtual background is a great way to make it look like you’re all meeting together in a relaxed environment. But that may not be enough to get the conversation flowing. Icebreakers can help release tension and improve interaction. Here are the four top reasons to try using ice breakers at your next meeting.
1. Warm Up the Conversation
Sometimes, the hardest thing about starting a virtual meeting is getting the conversation going so the organizer isn’t the only one talking. To keep this from happening, it’s important to have an ice breaker large group virtual strategy.
If you aren’t sure how to use ice breakers effectively, here are a few strategies to get you started.
Ask attendees what the best piece of advice is that they’ve ever been given
Invite people to talk about what they did over the weekend
Have a pop quiz about an upcoming product launch or about something totally unrelated to work
Invite someone before the meeting to tell a personal or professional story related to the meeting topic
Forced interactions are never fun. Fortunately, you can encourage natural participation in your meetings by using ice breakers to lighten the mood and relieve tension.
2. Improve Efficiency and Bonds
It can be hard to feel like a cohesive team when you’re all located in different places. To improve efficiency during your virtual meetings and help your team members feel a tighter bond with each other, try using free teams backgrounds that make it look like you’re all in the same location. When you feel like you’re all meeting together it can help improve efficiency and make everyone feel like they’re part of the same team.
3. Encourage Participation
It’s natural to feel like you have to fill up the silence with your own voice. As a meeting organizer, it’s important to guide conversation but not dominate it. You can encourage participation by asking different people specific questions. Be sure that the questions are relevant and that the person you’re asking is the appropriate one for each question.
4. Help People Feel Open and Honest
You can create an open and honest atmosphere by conducting your meetings in a kind and relaxed way. Try to avoid intimidating or accusing participants in any way. While efficiency and accountability are important, it’s best to address those types of things in one-on-one interviews instead of in a group meeting setting.
These are just a few possible ways to break the ice and make your virtual meetings more effective. It may take practice to create a relaxed atmosphere, but keep working at it until you’re successful.