Virtual workshops allow people from different locations to collaborate in a safe, cost-effective way. The same core principles apply regardless of whether a workshop is virtual or in person, but if you’re used to the face-to-face version, running an effective session online requires a few important adjustments.

SHORT DURATION
In-person workshops can run all day, but people find it harder to maintain focus for that long when staring at a computer screen for a virtual meeting. Online workshops should last no longer than about four hours. If more time is needed, the sessions should be spread across multiple days.
 
PRECISE AGENDA
In virtual workshops, facilitators are not in control of the physical environment and cannot engage, encourage and control people using eye contact and body language. What the facilitator says, and their tone of voice, are paramount (see Section 8.3). Working remotely also makes it harder for participants to concentrate. There are likely to be more distractions - from children, pets, washing machines, delivery drivers, etc. - and participants may be tempted to multi-task. Facilitators therefore need to direct proceedings with greater precision and authority.
 
CLEAR HOUSE RULES
At the start of a virtual workshop, facilitators need to ensure that all participants are familiar with the functionality of the platform and aware of the house rules everyone’s expected to follow. Facilitators should:
- Ask everyone to keep their cameras on, explaining that this helps foster a collaborative spirit that’s key to the workshop’s success
- Request that people keep their microphones muted, apart from when they’re talking, to minimize background noise
- Encourage participants to be in 'do not disturb’ mode (avoiding calls and messages, and switching off notifications) and explain that there will be regular breaks for people to respond to anything urgent
- Demonstrate how to use specific features of the virtual meeting platform that are integral to the workshop

VERBAL ICEBREAKER
An icebreaker is arguably even more important for an online workshop than an in-person session. The question-and-answer icebreaker described in Section 9.4 works particularly well in on online environment.
 
REGULAR BREAKS
Since energizers are difficult to orchestrate virtually, participants should be encouraged to stretch their legs and grab some fresh air during the scheduled breaks. Given that people find it hard to concentrate for long periods when they’re engaged remotely, breaks should be fairly frequent; ten minutes every hour should be sufficient.
 
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
If the workshop has more than about eight participants, you might want to use breakouts involving two to five people at certain points. Breakouts are ideal for:
- Getting to know one another other better   
- Discussing a specific topic in depth
- Developing a prototype to share with the wider group
- Brainstorming how to make an existing idea better