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3.Then work with a coach for individualized instruction so you can perfect general knowledge you receive from standardized training.
4.Have your coach sit in on your first couple of teleconferences to give you feedback.
5.Sit in on some free teleclasses yourself to see what works and what doesn’t. It’s an excellent way to learn. Here is one source: www.teleclass.com .
6.Send a list of procedures to participants each time until you have worked with same group for a while. This should include such things as:
·Call from a landline and be on time. ·Announce yourself when you enter call, and each time you make a comment. ·Don’t hog airtime. Let others speak. ·Call from a quiet location – no dogs, machines, people talking, or children. Others need to be able to hear what’s going on. Put phone on mute if need be. ·Be courteous to instructor and to others on call. ·Keep your comments relevant to task at hand and things that would be helpful to others. ·Announce when you are leaving call.
Let your participants know how you want to handle questions. Are they welcome all along, or will there be a Q&A time at end?
Also inform them if this will be primarily lecture, or participatory. This will allow them to prepare their mindset.
Any information you can give ahead of time will be appreciated, and will optimize value of meeting or seminar, just as you would send a hardcopy agenda within your office.
7.During teleconference, check in with participants from time-to-time, using their names.
Say, “Mary what do you think about this?” or “John, would you like to make a comment?”
This assures people stay with you on call, and also allows you to get feedback you can’t get because you can’t see participants. You can’t tell if you’re boring them on telephone, or losing their interest, unless you ask.
8.End by going around virtual “room” asking each participant to tell you what they will take with them. This assures everyone stays on for duration of call, and stays invested. It also gives you feedback you need to see if you have made points you meant to, and how to correct on future teleconferences.
9.Ask participants for feedback at end of call, or to let you know by email. You want to know how to improve in future. 10.There are advantages to paying for a bridge line. Here are some:
·They may be more reliable, though I have never had trouble with a free bridge line. ·They may allow you to record call so you can sell recorded version later, or send it to those who missed meeting. Also for your own feedback. ·You can put guests on mute if need be. ·They may provide volume control. ·Some provide on-hold music ·Can allow for 100 or more participants
Extremely effective and efficient, many are turning to bridge lines for conferences, meetings and training. Give it a try.
©Susan Dunn, MA, Personal and Professional Development Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc . Transitions, career, emotional intelligence, relationships, leadership, communication. Coaching, Internet courses and eBooks, http://www.webstrategies.cc/ebooklibrary.html . Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE ezine. I train and certify EQ coaches. Email for info.