Hello friends,
Greetings from Barcelona.☀️
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.❤️
I’m diving into the science behind why we interact so differently online.
And how understanding 5 simple facts about online engagement can completely transform the way you design your live online sessions (with design tips).
Let’s jump right in!
Why do online sessions feel so weird?
Ever notice how hard it is to keep your group’s energy up online? Or find it nearly impossible to “read the room”?
You’re not imagining it!
There are real scientific reasons why online sessions feel different—and a lot of it comes down to how our brains process information in virtual vs. in-person settings.
It’s no secret that work in person doesn’t work online.
When I started I tried that. You may have tried to do the same. But very quickly I learned that what I did in person just didn’t translate online.
It took me a while to figure out why.
That’s where understanding the science comes in.
I’ve sifted through a bunch of research and I’ve boiled it down to five simple reasons why online sessions are fundamentally different – and how you can design specifically for the way we interact online.
Here they are along with links to research at the end. 👇
1. Lack of Non-Verbal Cues
In person, we rely heavily on non-verbal cues to gauge emotions and build rapport – facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, and eye contact.
But online, those cues are harder to pick up. Direct eye contact is impossible through a screen. And if cameras are off, there’s zero visual information to work with. Without these cues, we don’t get the information we need to engage.
💡 Design Tips: To compensate, use intentional check-ins, and quick ways to survey the group like polls, and reactions to bring out those missing cues.
2. Information Overload
In person, it’s easier to shift your focus and naturally absorb information from your surroundings.
Online, participants have to process delayed reactions and continuously stare at themselves and each other on the screen – up close. That extra mental effort increases your participants’ cognitive load. That’s why online sessions often feel more exhausting and can drain energy faster.
💡 Design Tips: Bite-size your content, keep sessions short, include breaks, and make it interactive to keep energy up.
3. No Spontaneous Connection
Research shows that people are willing to take more risks and participate if they feel connected to others in the group. That’s where casual chats or small talk help to build trust and rapport – especially at the start of a session.
But online we lose those spontaneous moments of connection, so building trust doesn’t happen as quickly (or at all). That’s why you may find it harder to get participants to speak up (especially the quiet ones).
💡 Design Tip: Carefully design opportunities for your group members to connect early on through chat prompts, connection activities, and breakouts.
4. More Distractions
Let’s face it – in online sessions, distractions are everywhere: emails, open tabs, phone notifications… and let’s not forget pets! 🐕
Participants are more prone to multitasking or being pulled away by these distractions than in person. That makes it much harder for your audience to stay fully present and engaged throughout the session.
💡 Design Tip: At the start, invite participants to minimize distractions, and keep engagement high with interactive elements.
5. Group Energy Doesn’t Flow as Easily
In person, emotions are contagious, and energy spreads through the room.
Online, that’s harder to replicate. The screen creates a physical and psychological barrier, making it harder to feel the collective vibe of the group. Without that shared energy, participants can feel isolated, and energy levels can dip quickly.
💡 Design Tip: Mix up your methods frequently, ask for input, encourage communication in the chat, and use digital tools to create a buzz in your virtual room.
How about you? How do you design your virtual sessions differently than in-person? Hit reply and let me know!
If you want to dive deeper, here are some of my go-to articles and books on the science of virtual engagement👇
📖Why do Virtual Meetings Feel So Weird, American Scientist
📖Stanford Researchers Identify Four Causes for “Zoom Fatigue” and Their Simple Fixes, Stanford Report
📖The Science Behind the Power of Small Talk, Fast Company
📖 Virtual Meetings Are Less Engaging than In-Person, Forbes
📚 Digital Body Language, Erica Dhawan
This Week’s Facilitator Finds 💪
In this section, you’ll find curated events, resources, tips, and tools worth checking out.
1/ 💻 Measuring Meaningful Experiences. Check out this LinkedIn post from experience designer Andy Sontag where he shares a framework for measuring impactful experiences.
2/ 🎙️Optimizing Performance with Emotional Intelligence. Fascinating interview with author and EI expert Daniel Goleman on how to develop this essential skill for leadership (and I’d add facilitation).
3/ The Results of Last Week’s AI Poll 🥁👇
Thanks to everyone who took part!
💌 Thanks for reading The Quest
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Creatively yours,
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