Group training sessions for virtual teams are a valuable tool that helps generate synergy among the members, while promoting teamwork.

Why is group training important?

In keeping with the well-known expression that says “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” group training helps unify the talents and skills on a team by:

• Developing the full potential of the whole team.
• Strengthening synergy and teamwork.
• Promoting collective learning.
• Exchanging viewpoints and valuable contributions.
• Reaching project goals and objectives as a group.

In what situations is it right to implement them?

Some of the scenarios where implementing virtual group training is advisable are:

• Projects where teamwork is required.
• Projects where there are common goals and objectives.
• Projects that deal with similar areas and processes.

Practical Advice

• Planning the Session: Establish steps and different points of the gathering, introduction, content and time and date scheduling.
• Session Agenda: Make a schedule with everything that needs to be covered in the group training, share this information before the meeting starts.
• Participative Dynamic Organize the members to speak in turns and state them at the beginning of the training. Create a time allowance for voluntary participation and explain the order of the session so that there are no interruptions and everyone gets a chance to share his or her point of view.
• Group Activities: Plan the introduction of the participants and dynamics in a way that breaks the ice and humanizes the virtual arena.
• Idea Sharing: Create time allowances where the participants can share their thoughts, perceptions, reflections, suggestions and proposals. These time allowances can be created so they take place during the training, with your supervision, or afterwards, in a chat/forum.
• Guiding questions: Open up a space for critical thinking and reflection that gives everyone a chance to mobilize what they've learned and discuss resources they've developed.

What should you avoid?

As far as virtual group training, some things one should avoid are:

• Very Large Groups: without face-to-face interaction, people are prone to wandering off. An interactive training with more than 25 people is always difficult to manage.
• Groups with Different Levels of experience and knowledge: this opens the possibility of people moving at different speeds, and may drag out the session longer than planned.
• Groups at Different Language Levels: make sure that everyone is on the same level of speaking proficiency with the language the training is held in. Otherwise, confusion can arise.
• Interruptions: it is crucial from the beginning to ask the team to silence their microphones at the appropriate time, and respect the participation of all to avoid any interruptions.
• Repetition of Information: the information should be well organized and concise, avoiding revisiting the same subject.

Would you like to have some IceBreakers to start your next training? Here's some!

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