When Remote Workshops Go Silent: Turning Quiet into Productive Participation

Your remote workshop feels flat. The energy is low, and no one’s responding. Now what?

You’re running a session online and nobody has their camera on. You’re not sure if everyone volunteered or if they just got assigned. Questions are met with silence. Activities are slow moving. That little panic spikes. What do you do next?

When the group feels closed or hesitant, lean into it instead of pushing too hard. You can find engagement in the silence and still get value from your session:

Switch to individual activities, like brain writing. Have everyone jot down their answers instead of speaking up. This helps folks contribute even if the energy is low since they don't have to speak or turn on their camera.

1. Make it easy: If nobody’s jumping into the collaboration space or whiteboard, offer the path of least resistance. Ask people to post ideas in the chat; you can collect and share them for everyone.

2. Actively facilitate the group space: Share your screen and scribe for the group. Move ideas from chat directly onto the board so everyone can see contributions.

3. Help participants follow along: Keep discussion questions posted in both the chat and the board, so everyone can see the current topic.

4. Prompt the group on individual ideas: If someone makes a comment that should be discussed, ask the group to build on it. Invite anyone to expand: what does that mean for your team or project? You get two wins here: it encourages wider contribution, and someone might turn on their mic to expand. Plus, if the idea gets misinterpreted, the person who shared it might jump in to clarify.

5. Reset your expectations: If the session isn’t headed where you planned, pause and ask how much progress is realistic today. Be transparent: explain your original goal and how you’re pivoting. For example: “We’d planned for breakout discussions on X, but it looks like staying in one group will work better. Please share your ideas however you prefer, in chat, on the board, or unmute if you’d like.”

Facilitating a workshop like this can be demanding. Success depends on how well you encourage contributions in a way that feels safe for everyone, however they choose to participate. It might leave you drained.

But...

Even when a session feels like it’s falling flat, opportunities live in the quiet. If everyone goes silent, that doesn’t mean you failed; it just means the group needed a shift. Progress isn’t about the energy in the moment, but the value created together and how open people are to coming back and participating again. Adapt your approach and meet people where they are and you’ll still gather insights and earn trust, which will benefit everyone in the long run.