- Well, we are all getting used to working remotely. So here is another suggestion for how to communicate with your remote teams. And that is remembering that audience participation requires prompting, and not just the open-ended, hey, let me know if you have any thoughts on this, or feel free to weigh in. Those are suggestions. But when you're working with a one-to-many dynamic, you need direction more than suggestion. 

So let me give you an example from sports. As a reporter, if I'm doing a postgame interview at T-Mobile Park and it is being broadcast live on the video board and all of the fans are watching, I might hear some fan reaction, like a smattering of applause from one section, hesitation from another section. And that could prompt me to actually call it out during the middle of the interview, saying something like, I think the fans want to show their appreciation one more time for that play that you made in the eighth inning. Or we'll let the fans give you one more round of applause as you head into the clubhouse. 

In that moment, you get full 100% engagement and participation because the audience knows exactly what they're supposed to be doing. It wasn't just a suggestion. There was actual direction. 

You can apply the same concept when you are leading those virtual video conferences. Now, you might not want everybody on the call to applaud. But you could ask them to raise their hand. Poll questions and would-you-rather scenarios could be easily responded to with a show of hands. Make sure that everybody's video function is on. And you can poll the room or your audience. Plan ahead for the questions that you know should be asked or would be appropriate during your meeting, because that type of question really does increase engagement and interaction. 

If you are looking for more communication tips for working with your remote teams, go to the website talksportytome.com. And download the free ebook with 10 conversation strategies. Or send me an email, jen@talksportytome.com.