It’s true:  Your career will undoubtedly include working virtually.  For instance, one of my recent projects included intensive collaboration with folks in the U.S., Italy, and the Congo; without ever meeting each other, we did some of our best work because we were organized and used conference calls and technology to keep on track.

That’s why I include a conference call with every online or hybrid course.  You’ll add to your workplace skills and create more of an efficient community with your colleagues which may carry over into future opportunities.  Here’s how:

First, if you don’t already have a GMAIL account through Google, get one now.  Just as in social media, claim a name as close as possible to your real one for personal branding and so somebody else doesn’t claim it.  Next, watch this video about how to share documents without attachment hassles:  Google Documents in Plain English.  Now use your GMAIL name to sign up for Google docs; plus, look at Google Reader, circles, and other services.

For this term, each team will hold their own conference call.  Each team must work together to find a mutual time, email me to reserve that slot (because I want to sit in if possible), create an agenda for the call, email and share it on your team’s Google doc it at least three days before our call, and complete our call within 22 minutes.

Conference call information:

1)  First, everybody needs a gmail account and each team must come together to put a new product on your Google document, the agenda for our 22-minute meeting.  When it’s done, add me to the document (nancyvanleuven@gmail.com) so I’m prepared for our meeting.

2)  These are the steps:  1)  Schedule a 22-minute meeting; 2) have a goal-based agenda; 3) Send required reading (agenda) three days before; and 4) start on time!

3) Create an agenda and include these items:

• Call to order (one team member should begin the call and take brief notes to email them to us after the call)
• Introductions (every team member say their name and where they’re calling from)
• Reports of individual progress (reassure your supervisor that everybody is caught up and doing well; after all, if any individual is having problems, they should have already talked with the team and me)
• Discussion of team progress (tell your supervisor about new observations and needs about your client)
• As may arise (this old-fashioned term allows time, if there’s any left within our 22-minute framework, for team questions and concerns)
• Adjourn