Greetings from a chilly Toronto we have been braving the Arctic Vortex.🥶❄️
An intriguing question popped up in the chat in one of my online training sessions:
“How do you make sure that people aren’t multitasking?”
👆That question gets to the heart of one of the biggest challenges we face as online session leaders:
⚡️Keeping your group laser-focused⚡️
It’s tough, especially when virtual audiences are more distracted than ever – multitasking, zoning out, and often slipping off-camera.
It’s not that your group members don’t want to pay attention.
You may have a well designed session and top notch content. But when you are online it can be too tempting to jump over to another screen.
Just think about the last video call you joined. I know I am guilty of glancing over at my phone notifications, checking my inbox and sending off a few quick emails. Maybe you can relate?
Here’s what I realized:👇
You can’t eliminate distractions, but you can help your group members significantly reduce them. Especially at the start of the session.
The problem is if you miss that window you may find yourself in the uphill struggle of trying to reel distracted participants back in for the rest of your session. And no one wants that!
So how do you get everyone focused from the start?
The good news is that there are super simple strategies that you can use to increase your group members to increase focus at the beginning of your session.
Here are 3 strategies that work really well for me:
1/ 📧Send a pre-session “Expectations Email”
Before your session even begins, send a short email with tips on how to get the most out of the session.
Here’s what I usually include👇
For the best training experience, here’s what I recommend:
✔️ Find a quiet space where you can focus
✔️ Dial in from your laptop or computer (instead of your mobile)
✔️ Be ready to join with your camera on (if possible)
✔️Have a paper and pen at hand for writing exercises
This preps your group to optimize their focus right from the start.
2/ 😌 Offer a “Mindfulness Moment”
You may not know if your group members have been on Zoom for hours already or just rushed through the door.
That’s why giving your group members a mindfulness moment helps everyone get grounded. Here are a few ideas:
✔️Take a moment to put your feet on the ground and do a body scan.
✔️Take a few deep breaths in and out together.
✔️Do a simple stretch (I usually focus on neck and shoulders).
This gives your group members a chance to release stress and tune in fully.
3/ 🔎Give people time to “Take One Action”
We can get so distracted, sometimes we don’t even realize our attention is split. In the first 5 minutes, tackle the distraction elephant in the room:
✔️Share in the chat: Ask, “What’s one thing you can do do reduce distractions right now”. I’ll share mine – closing tabs!
✔️Take an action: Give everyone a minute to take that action.
In last week’s workshop I got responses like these:
“Minimize all windows!”
“Turn off notifications.”
“Remember to breathe.”
Remember, while you can’t eliminate distractions entirely, these super simple strategies can help boost your group’s focus from the start.
And if you want the complete system for getting and keeping your online groups engaged, I invite you to check out my on demand video course Live Session Magic 🪄
–> In less than 2 hours of bite sized videos you will learn proven tools and techniques for running exceptional live online sessions. ⚡️
Now over to you!
How do you help your groups get laser focused at the start of your session? Let me know by hitting reply to this message.
This Week’s Facilitator Finds 💪
In this section, you’ll find curated events, resources, tips, and tools worth checking out.
📅 State of Facilitation 2025 Report Launch Event Jan 30. Hear insights from Session Lab and top facilitators from around the globe and prepare yourself for the future of facilitation with this live online event.
📅 Said the Facilitainer’s StreamAlive Walkthrough Jan 29. Get a live walkthrough of one of my all time favourite engagement platforms, StreamAlive by virtual engagement pro Said Saddouk.
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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.
👉 Live Session Design Video Course. Live Session Magic gives you a proven system for designing consistently high-quality online sessions. Join the interest list here and be the first to get access.
👉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.
