If you’ve led live online sessions, you’ve probably faced at least one of these scenarios: 👇
- You ask a question… and hear crickets 🦗
- Cameras stay off, and you’re not sure who’s paying attention
- The same few voices speak up, while quieter ones stay silent
- You try a few activities, but they feel a bit hit-or-miss
Sound familiar? You’re not alone!
When I first started leading live online sessions, I was obsessed with delivering “high-quality content.”
I’d jump straight into slides and frameworks—racing to get through my agenda.
The result?
👉 Flat energy
👉 Me doing all the talking
👉 Feeling completely exhausted by the end 😩
Something had to change.
I started experimenting:
✨ Taking more time at the start to get to know who was in the room
✨ Pairing people up in short breakouts before diving into content
✨ Cutting back on slides and building in more time for sharing insights
And it was a complete game-changer.
Participants leaned in, opened up, and actually wanted to engage. Instead of feeling exhausted at the end of the session, I felt completely energized.
Even better? My inbox filled with messages like: “That was different from every other online workshop I’ve attended.”
It lead to a major breakthrough in the way I approached my live sessions:
Here’s what I realized:
✨Connection isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s the spark that makes everything else work.
And it’s where the magic of live sessions happens. ✨
That insight inspired the CEO Principle:
- 💬 C = Connect
- ⏰ E = Early
- 🔁 O = Often
This simple principle has transformed the way I lead sessions.
Here’s how it works👇
💬 C = CONNECT
In the rush to deliver content, it’s easy to overlook connection.
But it’s connection that actually drives engagement.
When people feel seen and included, they’re more likely to speak up, stay present, and get value from the session.
⏰ E = EARLY
The earlier you invite people to connect, the faster they’ll start engaging.
Aim to create connection within the first 10 minutes. It can be as simple as a chat prompt, poll, or short introduction breakout. Connecting early sets the tone for the whole session.
🔁 O = OFTEN
Don’t just connect once and move on.
Weave connection moments throughout your session—after breaks, before closing, or anytime energy dips.
Sounds great right? But how do you put this into practice?
Here are 5 of my favourite ways to bring the CEO Principle to life in my live sessions 👇
1. 💡Prompt Questions
Use a quick, inclusive prompt at the start.
Example: “What’s one thing you’re excited about this weekd?”
It’s universal, low stakes, and it helps people answer the question: “do I belong here?”.
2. 👋Turn on Your Mic and Say Hi
After I read some of the chat responses, I like to invite participants to turn on their mics and say hi to the group.
It’s an easy yet powerful way to get all voices in the Zoom room that helps build energy and humanize the virtual space.
3. 🤝 Connection Breakouts
Within the first 10 minutes of a session try pairing people up to share: “What made you say yes to joining today?”
This gives people a purposeful way to get to know each other early in the session that builds trust.
4. 🤔 Guided Reflections
After each content piece, pause and ask: “What’s one insight or takeaway?”
Because here’s the truth: people often learn more from each other than from you. Hearing how peers make sense of an idea makes it click in a whole new way.
5. ✨ Closing with Connection
Wrap up with a final prompt like, “What’s one word that captures how you’re leaving today?” or “What’s your biggest takeaway?”
It helps people reflect and end on a note of connection.
💪 Put it into Action
The next time you design a live session try the CEO Principle.
What’s a small tweak you could make to connect early and often? Hit reply to this email and let me know—I’d love to hear.
📆 You are Invited: Free Design Workshop this Thursday
Join me and the brilliant Ryan Clover from Maple Creative for a free 1- hour workshop, Thursday August 28th.
Ryan specializes in creating engaging websites for course creators and online community leaders (including mine:).
We’ll be sharing fresh design ideas for your next online event—including how to use the CEO Principle in practice.
Click the button below to register 👇
💌 Thanks for reading The Quest
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Creatively yours,
Whenever you are ready there are 2 more ways I can help you:
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