Hello friends,
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.❤️
Organizing a virtual event is no small feat. Are they really worth it? And if they are, what makes them worthwhile? That’s our Quest for today. 🔎
Let’s jump right in!
Are virtual conferences worth it?
A couple of weeks ago I had the huge honor of leading a session at the International Association of Facilitation’s 30th Anniversary Virtual Summit.
But I couldn’t help but be skeptical. 🤔
The conference platform Vfairs seemed complicated. The idea of connecting with 3D avatars didn’t exactly thrill me. And I couldn’t picture anyone picking up a “virtual swag bag”.
Still, I kept an open mind.
I clicked my way through the virtual doors, and signed up for a session on Virtual Facilitation with Francisco Ramirez.
Here’s where it started getting interesting.
About 10 minutes in, I landed in a breakout room with Diane, a young facilitator from Ukraine. She told me about her work with governmental and international groups and how the war had pushed her to master virtual facilitation. I was completely amazed!
And it didn’t stop there.
Over the next few days, I joined sessions with some of my favorite facilitators. I heard the latest on AI in facilitation. I experimented with open space. I dialed into happy hours. And co-facilitated an interactive session with IAF board member Simon Wilson on the future of facilitation.
So, was it worth it?
100%! When done right, virtual conferences open doors that in-person events just can’t—connecting us globally without the jet lag, cost, or travel hassles. They give us instant access to industry experts and the opportunity to meet people we might never otherwise encounter.
Here are four features that made the IAF Summit worthwhile for me—hopefully, they’ll spark some ideas for your next virtual event.
1. 🎯A Clear Purpose
​The summit wasn’t just a collection of sessions; it was a deep dive into how facilitation is evolving with a group of peers. Every detail supported that purpose. When there’s a unifying purpose, the event feels cohesive and impactful—and everyone knows why they’re there.
2. đź’ŞExpert Organization
​Virtual conferences can feel less personal because they are online. IAF’s incredible volunteer organizing team created a personalized summit experience. A strong team behind the scenes makes all the difference in creating a seamless, meaningful experience.
3. 🤝Designing for Real Connection
​The IAF created “social” spaces like virtual coffee breaks, round tables, breakout rooms, and even happy hours. This was the key to helping participants feel like they were truly “in the room” with others.
4. ✨Interaction Over Presentation
​This wasn’t just a series of webinars that could’ve been pre-recorded. Every speaker, including me, was briefed on how to create engagement: we used polls, Q&As, breakout activities, and other tools to keep people actively involved.
Virtual events offer something unique, creating an accessible, engaging experience that brings people together from anywhere in the world.
What about you? Have you had a memorable virtual conference experience? What made it stand out? Hit reply and let me know.
This Week’s Facilitator Finds đź’Ş
In this section, you’ll find curated events, resources, tips, and tools worth checking out.
1/ 🎙️Podcast Episode: Designing Engaging Remote Workshops. I was thrilled to be a guest on Nathy Ravez’s podcast There’s a Workshop for That. Join us to hear our virtual facilitation tips:) Check out Nathy’s amazing facilitation content on LinkedIn.
2/ 📆Butter’s Seen in Scenes Learning Festival Butter is about to launch a new game-changing virtual engagement tool “Scenes”. Join the 24-hour festival on 7-8 November where 40 top virtual facilitators will give you a look into the future of virtual facilitation.
3/ đź“ť Guide to Hosting A Virtual Conference. Check out this blog from the team over at Wild Apricot for virtual conference tips as well as a list of virtual conference platforms.
đź’Ś Thanks for reading The Quest
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Creatively yours,
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