🚩BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front🚩
Chris Federer experimented with a facilitation technique where participants turn off their cameras and respond to prompts by renaming themselves in their Zoom profiles. The activity was inspired by one of Chris’s LinkedIn posts about how we could use Zoom renaming to facilitate fun conversations and offer a different perspective on group dynamics during online meetings.
*This was Chris’s first time trying this move out and wasn’t sure how the activity would go. 😊
🚩 RECAP 🚩
Chris’s Intro: I’ve never tried this before. Today we’re going to experiment with a ‘facilitation move’ I hope can be another way to positively impact group engagement and dynamics during online meetings.   The other day I shared a post on LinkedIn that clearly touched a nerve about connection and engagement. It was just kind of this throwaway idea that I shared online and it really racked up the interactions.  In it, I shared that I thought it might be interesting to have participants turn their cameras off and rename themselves with answers to prompts. Maybe the shift if group interactions will lead to more interesting conversations.
Chat Instructions :
I’ll share prompts to respond to. Each prompt will take 3 minutes.
You’ll reflect on the prompt for 20 seconds then turn your cameras off and go on mute. Rename yourself with your answer. You do not need to speak but if you are ready to speak indicate this by turning on your camera and mic to share. After you have shared, leave your camera on and the mic on mute.
Not everyone will speak each prompt and that is okay!
Turn your cameras on at the start of each new prompt.
Prompt 1: We’re going to open up with a quick weather check. I’ll give you 10 seconds to reflect on how you’re feeling. What emoji would you be? Thumbs up, thumbs down, happy face?
Prompt 2: Let’s follow up with an appreciation. This can be appreciation for someone else within the group or someone in your life. Like a mentor.
Prompt 3: How about some ideation? What would be a good name for this ‘facilitation move’?
Prompt 4: In one phrase or sentence, what is your key takeaway to share with those who weren't here?
🚩🚩Takeaways🚩🚩
These tiny shifts in how groups respond to prompts can lead to interesting conversations! It adds a sprinkle of anonymity and play that really engaged the group.
But if a group is new to this activity make sure to model the format first! From a facilitator’s perspective, Chris wishes he would have clarified that all the participants weren’t required to speak each prompt. He thinks it’ll leave more space for introverts to share and make shares easier to learn from.