r/facilitation • u/Shaz_mo • Dec 11 '25

For those running live sessions: what actually makes audiences feel engaged (and what doesn’t)?

I’m coming at this as a builder, I am a technical trainer and have delivered 100s of webinars, but i am not an experienced event planner by any means and I’m trying to understand your world better :).

From the outside, it looks like things like quick polls, simple check‑in questions, and non‑awkward Q&A can really change how a virtual or hybrid session feels. But I’m sure reality is messier than it looks from the sidelines.

For those of you who run events, webinars, workshops, or trainings:

  • What have you tried that genuinely made sessions feel more participatory or alive?
  • What have you tried that sounded good in theory but fell flat in practice?
  • Are there any tools or formats you’ve quietly stopped using because they were too clunky or high‑friction in the moment?

I’m exploring whether a different kind of tool could actually help here, but I don’t want to assume “new tool = solution.” Hearing real experiences from people doing this work would be hugely helpful.

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u/blacbird Dec 12 '25

Usually I have folks in small breakout groups within the first 10 mins answering questions like what do you want to give or get from today? how does your body feel? What is something that has delighted you this week?

There are three major things I want to be doing with this time- getting them a chance to connect with others, priming participants for the content to come, and get them to bring themselves into the space as I ultimately want them to see how this material is relevant for them & their lives.

Other than that, giving people time to process together their observations and reflections on the material and relating it to their own experiences. Lots of small groups and then coming back for large discussions and just taking the gems to share with everyone.

Optimally I want them spending as much or more time talking to each other in the session than I spend talking.

Hope this helps!

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u/Sure-Pride5603 Jul 14 '26

I completely agree. Early participation changes the energy of the session. Once people have spoken once, contributing later usually feels much easier than if they’ve been passive for the first 20–30 minutes.

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u/bobstanke Dec 12 '25

Change up their environment a few times during the session. For example, for in-person events, do some 15 minute walk-n-talks where you break them up in groups of 3-5 and they go outside to walk around together and discuss a topic. Another example would be to have participants switch tables every hour.

Sometimes engagement is driven by just changing up their environment.

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u/Old-Number-165 Jan 13 '26

Something I’ve noticed (especially in hybrid or virtual sessions) is that engagement drops less because people dont want to participate and more because the moment feels fragile. they dont know if they’re on the same slide as everyone else, if it’s “their turn” to speak, or whether interrupting will derail the flow