Hello friends,
🙌 Many thanks for reading The Quest, your weekly round-up of tips and insights to help you design and lead exceptional online sessions that your group members will love.❤️ This is issue #127.
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Let’s jump right in!
🤫 There is one facilitation secret that can make or break engagement in your live online sessions.
Here it is: the earlier you engage your participants, the more likely they are to stay engaged throughout the session. I know, it’s so simple, right?
I call it the Early Engagement Effect (EEE).
It’s why the first 5 minutes of any group session – online, in-person, or hybrid – can make or break the entire experience. Understanding the EEE is how you unlock engagement and avoid awkward silences.
It’s easy to default into talking mode.
I’ve been in countless workshops, meetings, and courses where the presenter starts talking. And then monologues their way through most of the session. Maybe you have been to a few of those too?
But too much talking crushes engagement.
These presenters get to the Q&A only to hear crickets. The problem is that it’s too late to re-engage your audience by that time. They lost interest a long time ago.
Here’s what it looks like on an “engagement” graph👇
That’s why you need to engage your audience early.
I’m talking from the moment they join your meeting. Try greeting them with a warm welcome. Invite them to answer a question in the chat. Do a quick icebreaker. This eases people into your session and warms them up for engagement. They’ll participate more. And they’ll leave energized and motivated to take action.
You can see the difference that engaging early makes on the engagement graph👇
The EEE is the secret to unlocking engagement.
Engagement means that your group members are motivated to have meaningful involvement in your session. Because they want to. And that’s when you see people fully participating and ready to take action.
It’s your job to unlock engagement.
You can’t assume that people come to your session already primed to engage. Engagement is like a light switch. And it’s your job to help your participant turn the engagement switch on.
How do you unlock engagement early? That’s our Quest for this week🔎
👉 Priya Parker’s 5 Ways the First 5 Minutes Shape Guests
✨ Priya Parker’s 5 Ways the First 5 Minutes Shape Guests
Few people understand the nuances of engaging your audience early than Art of Gathering author Priya Parker. In this article, she breaks down why the first 5 minutes are so important and the magic of a good opening.
Here are Parker’s 5 elements of an artful opening 👇
1/ It invites guests into a (temporary) social contract
2/ It reminds people why they are there
3/ It shows guests you care
4/ It connects guests through shared, relevant context
5/ A good opening meets the moment.
“The way we shape these very first moments affects all the next moments, too.” Priya Parker
P.S. Want to find out more about why facilitators are raving about StreamAlive? Check out the latest Workshops Work podcast where Dr. Myriam Hadnes interviews Lux and Tina about what makes this tool unique. Hint: it’s all about the chat.
💌 Thanks for reading The Quest
I always love hearing your feedback and suggestions. Just hit reply to share your thoughts and ideas.
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Creatively yours,
Whenever you are ready there are 2 more ways I can help you:
👉Custom coaching & team training. Book a free 15-minute zero-commitment call with me to see how I can support you and your team.
👉5-week Live Online Course. The Breakthrough Facilitation course gives you tools, personalized feedback, and a proven framework for designing and leading high-engagement live sessions. Join the interest list and be the first to get the next cohort dates and discounts.
