Recently I held an online talk about well-being and more specifically my approach to well-being considering it has different meanings for different people. 

When I’ve held talks or online presentations in the past, I’ve often incorporated breakout rooms. Particularly for large groups of people I felt that break-out rooms are a great way to be able to give everyone the chance to be heard. I like to run interactive sessions so that participants have the opportunity to be part of the discussion. In the past, however, I have observed that as soon as I announce that we will divide into breakout rooms to continue the discussion, people begin to leave….

So, this got me thinking and so for my most recent talk I decided not to incorporate breakout rooms. Before delving into the subject of well-being, I asked the audience how they felt about being assigned to breakout rooms. I posted an online poll and asked everyone who attended my presentation to vote on whether they liked, disliked, or were neutral about breaking into smaller groups to talk. There was not a single impartial vote, and 40% of the individuals in this group indicated that they dread entering breakout rooms and do not enjoy them at all. The other 60% really enjoyed them and appreciated being part of the discussion.

Researching further, provided more insight.  Some individuals simply dislike being put on the spot. Others, as introverts experience anxiety and worry when interacting with new people. Some people thought that if they came to hear a presentation, they only wanted to hear the presentation and not participate in the conversation. While others cherish the opportunity to meet new people, welcome the chance to network, and value engaging in thought-provoking discussions with others.

Going back to my talk on wellbeing, I opted not to split the group into breakout rooms and instead simply delivered a talk. Afterwards, reflecting on the discussion – and the results of the poll, prompted me to pause and consider the significance of organising and promoting events transparently. I decided to conduct additional research to see whether or not breakout rooms are beneficial and when they should be used.

Breakout rooms are a fantastic way to make online meetings more interactive, personalised, and even fun. The major “BUT” is that if you don’t love being thrust into them and are expected to engage in discussion that makes you feel awkward and uncomfortable, the pleasure factor vanishes very quickly. In the absence of social chemistry, it can be extremely hard to hold a meaningful discussion in a breakout space – and that can be counterproductive and stressful. In contrast, breakout rooms can greatly improve active discussion by giving participants the opportunity to express their viewpoints, share their experiences, and network.  In truth, I’ve led a session in which the participants assigned to a breakout area remained in contact and even created a WhatsApp group!

So, it appears that there is no right or wrong answer to the question of whether you should incorporate breakout rooms in your presentation, talk, or online session. What is important is to plan your session carefully and be really transparent about the tools that you plan to use. 

If you plan to use breakout rooms, let potential attendees know in advance so they can decide whether or not this technique works for them.  If you opt to add breakout rooms, you will have guests who are eager to participate, and you will avoid awkward silences with folks feeling uncomfortable.  In this way, you set the tone in advance and, most importantly, advocate for inclusion.