Feeling nervous at the start of your virtual meetings is totally normal, especially when ensuring everyone gets a chance to introduce themselves.
After chatting with amazing folks in the, we generated some strategies to make introductions smoother and more inclusive:
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: Keep a printed list of participants in alphabetical order. 📋 Check off names as you go to track who’s spoken.
𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬: Ask everyone to raise their hands and keep them up until they’ve introduced themselves. ✋ This visual cue shows who’s still waiting.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐣𝐢𝐬: Encourage participants to use emojis to "welcome" each person. 🎉 It adds fun and gets everyone engaged!
𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Let the group know you might miss someone (I’ve even had folks introduce themselves twice because I got nervous! 😅). Invite anyone missed to raise their hand.
𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Ask a colleague to keep an eye on the participant list and message you if someone gets missed. 👀
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Set an agreement to keep introductions on track. ⏰ It’s okay to guide the conversation if someone takes too long.
These strategies make a big difference!
🌈 When introductions flow smoothly, it sets the right tone for an amazing meeting, making you feel more at ease as a facilitator.
What’s your go-to tip for seamless introductions? And what do you do when you don't have time to introduce each person? I’d love to hear your ideas! 💬👇
For more tips, join our upcoming Facilitator's Path to Influence and Impact Workshop starting on Oct 2nd.
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