If our leadership team is geographically distributed and cannot commit to meeting in person for every session, how do you adapt your facilitation style to keep our energy high during a grueling eight hour Zoom session?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Running a full day quarterly session with a remote leadership team requires a shift in how we manage energy and attention. Zoom fatigue is real, and we cannot simply run the exact same session format online that we do in a physical conference room. To make a remote session successful, I adjust our pacing to include shorter, more frequent breaks to keep everyone sharp.

We also rely heavily on digital versions of the V/TO® and the Accountability Chart, but we keep the technology as simple as possible. The focus must remain on the human interactions, not on mastering a complex software interface. I will actively manage the digital room, calling on quiet team members and cutting off filibusters to ensure that virtual screens do not allow anyone to hide.

You must agree to a strict camera-on policy and absolute presence, meaning all email, Slack, and phone notifications are turned off. If your remote team is accustomed to multitasking during video calls, that habit ends on session day. We treat the digital space as a physical boardroom. The engagement works virtually if, and only if, every executive treats the virtual session with the same level of respect and intense focus as an in-person retreat.