4 Tips for Switching to Virtual Meetings

Whether through networking or poster sessions, the point is to create ways in which the audience can learn from the experts, engage with key opinion leaders and gain access to respected leaders they wouldn’t normally have a chance to speak with. How that is branded – networking, engaging conversations – or the methods used are less important than ensuring learning is more interactive.

Virtual conferences reduce financial and travel barriers that are inherent to in-person conferences, opening up knowledge-sharing to participants that don’t have the resources to travel to major conferences. However, survey results found many respondents found virtual networking to be contrived and inauthentic. One way this can and has been addressed is through local networking sites or hubs.

Virtual meetings have provided a lifeline during the Covid-19 pandemic, but also have a number of additional benefits, which can and should be part of the future of all conferences and symposia. Leveraging virtual helps bring down knowledge barriers based around cost, gender, career stage and geographic location.

The health risks of large in-person meetings have become apparent in recent years, but there is also the environmental impact to take into account. Now is the time to consider new meeting formats, which with a carefully planned design can be just as fulfilling.

Here are a few simple tips and tricks to consider when running a virtual meeting which include understanding why it is crucial to rehearse beforehand, knowing the right set-up when using a platform that you are unfamiliar with, and keeping up to date with updates.

Running a virtual meeting is not as easy as it might seem. Meeting organisers need to be able to coordinate the speakers, manage the flow of the meeting, and deal with technology that may be unfamiliar to them. They often feel pressured by colleagues to deliver high-quality sessions despite lacking the necessary experience.