🙋♀️ Hands up if this sounds familiar…
“People multi-task easily, so I have to work twice as hard to keep them hooked.”
“Participants who just joined from public transport… won’t connect, speak and are like ghosts.”
“Participants who are logged in from their mobile phones and driving in their car. Freaks me out!”
(👆These are real comments from people who filled out the Online Engagement Scorecard.)
You’ve probably seen this too. I know I have!
Battling distractions is one of the TOP challenges that people face when leading live online sessions.
If corralling attention drives you bananas, you’re not the only one.
Truth is that in the quirky world of online sessions, people can (and do!) show up from anywhere.
A car.
A noisy café.
A boardroom with five colleagues and one webcam.
[FILL IN THE BLANK:]
It’s easy to think the solution is better slides, more polls, or perfect content.
When I started leading live online sessions I used to try to push through the distractions.
Until I joined a webinar led by online learning expert Wed Kao who shared ✨one sentence✨ that completely shifted my thinking.
She paused and looked right into the camera and said:
👉“No one owes you their attention.”
It might just be one of the most helpful things anyone’s ever told me.
And it completely shifted my mindset. All of a sudden it felt a lot less like a battle and more like a design challenge.
Because here’s what I’ve learned:
You can’t eliminate distractions.
But you can help your group members show up with more focus and presence and limit the distractions in front of them.
So how do you reduce distractions?
Here are 3 simple design strategies. As always, these strategies work best when you adapt them to your specific purpose and group.
1/ 📧 Send a pre-session “Expectations Email”
Before your session even begins, prep your group by sending a short email with tips to help them get the most out of the experience. I usually include:
- ✔️ Find a quiet space where you can focus
- ✔️ Dial in from a laptop (not your phone)
- ✔️ Join with camera on, if possible
- ✔️ This will be an interactive session—come ready to contribute
It gives people a heads-up—and a chance to show up ready.
2/ 😌 Offer a “Mindfulness Moment”
Whether they’ve just rushed through the door or been on Zoom all day, a quick reset works wonders:
- ✔️ A few deep breaths
- ✔️ A gentle neck or shoulder stretch
- ✔️ Feet on the ground + a quick body scan
Doing something mindful or physical helps your group shake off stress and tune in.
3/ 🔎 Invite them to “Take One Action”
Attention is slippery—here one moment, gone the next. So early in the session, I’ll ask in the chat:
👉 “What’s one thing you can do to reduce distractions for the session?”
Then give people a minute to take that action.
Common responses:
- “Turn off notifications”
- “Minimize windows”
- “Hide my phone” 👈 My favourite
- “Close email”
- “Breathe”
It helps people name the distraction—and gives them a moment to act on it.
Remember — you can’t eliminate distractions — but with these three strategies you can stack the deck in favour of focus.
🎤 Over to you
What’s one tweak you could make to your session to help your group members reduce distractions? Hit reply – I’d love to hear it!
✨ If you want the full system I use to design sessions that keep people engaged, check out my on-demand video course: Live Session Magic 🪄
→ In under 2 hours, you’ll learn my go-to strategies, tools, and templates for getting and keeping your group’s attention—with ease!
This week’s Facilitator Finds 💪
In this section, you’ll find curated events, resources, tips, and tools that I’ve found super valuable — and I think you will too!
🎥 Bobby McFerrin Shows the Power of the Pentatonic Scale. A 3-minute masterclass in engagement. Thanks to Lux Narayan for re-surfacing this gem!
📆 Fit for Facilitation – Building Momentum on LinkedIn for Facilitators. A 90-minute session with seasoned communicator Said Saddouk to help facilitators get visible on LinkedIn—without the performance anxiety. Tomorrow, Jan 13.
✍️ How to Fix Awkward Silences. A LinkedIn post I wrote on the heels of last week’s newsletter that sparked some spicy comments. Join the conversation!
💌 Thanks for reading The Quest
I always love hearing your feedback and suggestions. Just hit reply to share your thoughts and ideas.
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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.
