A few ideas for how to create space for the communication of suffering and other vulnerable emotions, and to connect with students and employees as multi-faceted human beings in synchronous virtual meetings and classes. #compassion #academicchatter #orgcom A thread. 1/13
Arrive a few minutes early w /all your necessary materials prepared. Then, just as participants join, briefly and actively greet them. Just saying "Hello Kali. Good morning Joe" let's people know that they've been recognized. They are not invisible. 2/13
Allow space for (but do not mandate) non-agenda or task driven discussion. One option is by placing folks in 2-3 person break-out rooms for warm-ups and breaks. Folks should feel free to do whatever they'd like...chat, check email, tune out, go grab a cup of coffee. cont. 3/13
Non-agenda driven spaces allow folks to be whatever they want to be, & allow others to interact with them in this mode. This provides some "down time" & sometimes IMPORTANT things come up that otherwise wouldn't. This may trigger additional discussion and problem-solving. 4/13
Check-in with an invitation (not mandate) for folks to share in response to this question, "How are you arriving today?" People can reply non-anonymously via chat or anonymously via shared screen annotation. Answers may include "caffeinated, tired, curious" and so on. 5/13
Play a game of what I've begun to call "energy ball." This is where folks pretend to have a ball in their hands, say what kind of energy they're placing on it (e.g., nervous energy) and then choose someone else to virtually throw the ball to. (cont.) 6/13
Energy ball, cont. Then, that person answers with, "I've caught X's [nervous] energy and now I'm adding my [creative] energy and throwing that to Y." This continues and people say "pass" if they don't want to play. 7/13
Similar to the "how are you arriving" check-in, the energy ball game provides space for sharing otherwise invisible information. What's more, it triggers empathetic emotional contagion as people "catch" and then "acknowledge" the other's energy before passing it on. 8/13
I also like this energy ball game because it can get silly as some folks really exaggerate how they are throwing and catching the virtual ball. For those who choose to share their screens, it adds some physicality and whimsy. 9/13
Play follow the leader. This is best in a somewhat already established group & folks feel comfortable sharing their video. A person starts with doing some physical activity (e.g. nodding head) and others then mirror it. Then you pass to another who chooses a new action.10/13
Mirroring cont. By mirroring others' actions, we are better able to enter their emotional worlds. What's more, when we see others mirroring us, we feel more attuned and connected with them and actually feel more affinity toward them. 11/13
One last and EASY tip. After getting your camera situated, TURN OFF SELF VIEW. When our own image stares back, even the least narcissistic folks get preoccupied. With it off, we not only act more authentically, but do more to focus on & connect with others. 12/13
O.k., there's a few ideas for recognizing others as full humans in virtual meetings & creating space for sharing a range of feelings. These practices may be helpful in the best of times, but may be especially important during this very weird and painful time in the world. 13/13
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