1 Set clear goals and agenda

Before you start your meeting, make sure you have a clear purpose and a realistic agenda. Communicate your goals and expectations to your participants and explain how they can contribute to the meeting outcomes. Provide a brief overview of the agenda and the time frame for each activity or topic. This will help your participants understand what they are expected to do, why they are doing it, and how long they have to do it.

2 Use interactive methods and tools

One of the best ways to keep large groups engaged is to use interactive methods and tools that encourage participation, collaboration, and feedback. For example, you can use polls, surveys, quizzes, games, breakout rooms, chat, or whiteboards to collect input, generate ideas, test knowledge, or have fun. You can also use online platforms or apps that are designed for large group facilitation, such as Mural, Mentimeter, Kahoot, or Zoom. These tools can help you create dynamic and interactive sessions that appeal to different learning styles and preferences.

3 Balance structure and flexibility

While having a clear agenda and a set of rules is important for large group facilitation, you also need to be flexible and adaptable to the needs and interests of your participants. You may need to adjust your pace, content, or format depending on the feedback, questions, or challenges that arise during the meeting. You may also need to create space for spontaneous discussions, debates, or brainstorming that can enrich the meeting experience. However, you should also maintain some structure and control to ensure that the meeting stays on track and achieves its goals.

4 Encourage diversity and inclusion

Large groups often consist of people with different backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and opinions. This can be a source of creativity and innovation, but also of conflict and misunderstanding. As a facilitator, you should encourage diversity and inclusion by creating a safe and respectful environment where everyone feels valued and heard. You can do this by using inclusive language, acknowledging different viewpoints, inviting contributions from all participants, and addressing any issues or concerns that may arise.

5 Provide feedback and recognition

Feedback and recognition are essential for keeping large groups engaged and motivated during a meeting. You should provide feedback and recognition to your participants throughout the meeting, not just at the end. You can do this by acknowledging their efforts, achievements, or insights, thanking them for their participation, or highlighting their contributions. You can also ask your participants to provide feedback and recognition to each other, for example, by sharing compliments, appreciations, or suggestions. This will help you build trust, rapport, and a sense of community among your participants.

6 Follow up and follow through

The engagement of your large group does not end when the meeting is over. You should follow up and follow through with your participants to ensure that the meeting outcomes are clear, actionable, and relevant. You can do this by sending a summary of the meeting, including the main points, decisions, or action items, asking for feedback or evaluation, or providing additional resources or support. You should also monitor and report on the progress and impact of the meeting actions and keep in touch with your participants until the next meeting or event.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?