Featured

Planning Virtual Meeting Icebreakers: 4 Best Techniques

Online meetings benefit from icebreakers every bit as much as the face-to-face meetings.  Shy participants need help getting comfortable participating.  Bored attendees need to see the content will be useful.  This doesn’t change just because we can’t see each others’ faces.

There’s also the intimidation factor of online technology.  Many of us don’t know how to use the tools, or are uncomfortable not seeing each others’ faces.

Next time you lead an internet conference, try incorporating one of these 4 icebreaker approaches and you’ll see a difference.

1.  At least get an introduction

You’ll always want to at least have everyone introduce themselves.  (If I’m in a meeting I want to know who else is on the call, don’t you?)  If it makes sense for your meeting, have them add something personal about themselves as well.  I like to guide the personal side with a question — favorite pet, something fun about themselves we may not know, best vacation spot, you get the drift.

2.  Ask for a lead-in

Help everyone understand the reasons for the meeting.  You might ask each person to share one thing they want to get from the meeting.  Advanced online tip:  if you have interactive chat in your web conference software, have everyone type in their answer.  Think of it as a quick software orientation inside the icebreaker.

3.  Visuals rule

Use a powerpoint slide to display a question or visual puzzle.  This icebreaker technique is a chance to make sure the web conference software works for them.  If you plan to use the webinar’s document annotation tool, have them try that feature out too.

4.  Survey says!

If your webinar software supports it, post a survey for attendees to take.  It can be an on-topic survey, particularly good as a lead-in for a training meeting, or even a “fun facts” set of trivia questions.  If you give the survey results (and the correct answers) later in the meeting it can make a nice break when the energy starts to flag.

Decide on an icebreaker (or two) for your next online meeting.  Your attendees will appreciate it.

Virtual Tips

Webcam Conferencing: Time to Give it a Try

Have you tried using a webcam for conferencing yet?  If you have meetings not quite important enough to justify flying, but still needing that personal touch, you might want try it out.  I tried it for the first time last week and will definitely do it again.

Webcam technology has really improved the last few years.  You can get a very acceptable webcam for family use priced less than $40.  If you’re replacing business meetings you might want to pay more attention to brands and reviews (I like Logitech models), but can easily buy a decent webcam for $40-$60.

Your choice should definitely be a USB webcam.  Installation is easy, and you’ll be ready to go in a snap.  Here are a few examples:

Now, how to get started?  The best starting point is with free instant messaging software.  If you’re a member of AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, or Windows Live Messenger you already have video integration available.  Get one of your friends to practice with you until you’re comfortable with your webcam.  It’ll be fun.

Business Use:

Businesses don’t use video messaging much yet.  They tend stick to web conference software.  Fortunately, the major vendors all support video streaming and will integrate with your webcam.

Using video in web conferencing isn’t hard, but does require a little practice.  You’ll want to understand the software features before you host your first ‘real’ webcam conference.  Hold a practice meeting or two with a friend.

Quick Thoughts:

You’ll want to speak a tinch more slowly than normal.  This is actually a recommendation for all presenters, but is even more relevant in webcam conferencing.

Check out your webcam’s features.  Many of them offer real-time enhancement (think: wrinkle-smoothing), lighting adjustments, and other features to improve the image.  Use that web conference free trial to practice a bit.

All done?  Great.  You’re part of the webcam conferencing world.  Have fun!

Conferences

Planning Virtual Meeting Icebreakers: 4 Best Techniques

Online meetings benefit from icebreakers every bit as much as the face-to-face meetings.  Shy participants need help getting comfortable participating.  Bored attendees need to see the content will be useful.  This doesn’t change just because we can’t see each others’ faces.

There’s also the intimidation factor of online technology.  Many of us don’t know how to use the tools, or are uncomfortable not seeing each others’ faces.

Next time you lead an internet conference, try incorporating one of these 4 icebreaker approaches and you’ll see a difference.

1.  At least get an introduction

You’ll always want to at least have everyone introduce themselves.  (If I’m in a meeting I want to know who else is on the call, don’t you?)  If it makes sense for your meeting, have them add something personal about themselves as well.  I like to guide the personal side with a question — favorite pet, something fun about themselves we may not know, best vacation spot, you get the drift.

2.  Ask for a lead-in

Help everyone understand the reasons for the meeting.  You might ask each person to share one thing they want to get from the meeting.  Advanced online tip:  if you have interactive chat in your web conference software, have everyone type in their answer.  Think of it as a quick software orientation inside the icebreaker.

3.  Visuals rule

Use a powerpoint slide to display a question or visual puzzle.  This icebreaker technique is a chance to make sure the web conference software works for them.  If you plan to use the webinar’s document annotation tool, have them try that feature out too.

4.  Survey says!

If your webinar software supports it, post a survey for attendees to take.  It can be an on-topic survey, particularly good as a lead-in for a training meeting, or even a “fun facts” set of trivia questions.  If you give the survey results (and the correct answers) later in the meeting it can make a nice break when the energy starts to flag.

Decide on an icebreaker (or two) for your next online meeting.  Your attendees will appreciate it.

Reviews

Internet Conference Review: Webex MeetMeNow

Think your company’s too small for web conferencing?  Think again.

Webex’s MeetMeNow is a entry-level solution geared nicely for small businesses.  It has all the basic features at a price tag ($49 a month at the time of this writing) that won’t break the balance sheet.  If you’re spending much on business travel or conference calls, you can save a lot of money with an investment in MeetMeNow.

Need to set up a meeting?  Easy.  Sign up for the free MeetMeNow trial and download the scheduling software. MeetMeNow will take you through the steps to set up your first web meeting.  The step-by-step wizard will help you set up the meeting, including sending emails to all the invitees.  (You can also invite via Instant Messaging.)

Once they get the email, attendees click the Join link, identify themselves, and download a browser plugin.  They’re ready for the meeting.

As the presenter you can show any documents on your PC.  Better yet, you can designate anyone else as presenter and let them share documents from their desktop.  Use the conference as a way to meet in real time, review and annotate documents together, show video from a webcam, and (of course) deliver presentations.

MeetMeNow provides web conferencing (including the toll free phone call) for groups of up to 10 people.  Webex is so sure you’ll like it they’ll let you give it a spin with a free 14-day trial.