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NotesGeogDisbursedTeam

NOTES

WHY WERE INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN A SESSION ON GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED TEAMING?

• working in long distance groups/teams and running into problems
• working on east -> west coast projects
• working on teams located around the world and finding communication to be a challenge
• telecommuting / working from home
• want to connect with a world-wide network
• concerned with the narrow emotional bandwidth on phone calls
  
  
  

TIPS for COMMUNICATING

• Meetings should have a specific topic
• Different types of meetings: training vs getting things done
• Have one person serve as leader/facilitator" -- asking each individual's name and keeping track of people
• Identify a leader
• If you have an ineffective leader on your call, you can:
  • lead by example and hope the leader picks up on it
  • keep measures
  • poll to find out who enjoys leadership role and who doesn't
  • use toastmasters practice and have a rotating leadership for each meeting
  • Each individual should speak their name before making comments
• Each individual should begin to speak by stating name and topic
• It helps to have a check-in before each meeting.
  • One example is to ask: "Is there anything distracting you that might interfere with your ability to focus on the call..."
  • If everyone has a distraction, might be worthwhile to postpone the call.
  • Ask people to rate their distraction on a scale of say 1 to 10.
  • Make sure people know they have the option to pass
• At least check in with each person by name at the beginning of each meeting
• Create an environment for effective communication. This may include:
  • standing up while talking
  • closing eyes while listening, to reduce distractions
  • doodling while listening to keep hands busy
  • setting an appropriate pace
• Reduce or get rid of distractions and interruptions
• If you don't understand what someone is trying to say -- ideas or accent or ... -- make multiple different efforts using different techniques to try to understand
• If you want to change the topic... keep your mouth shut and don't contribute to the conversation about another topic.
• When you have finished meeting, but folks want to keep talking about other issues, say "We have achieved the goal of the call and it seems we are now pushing past the main issues. Those who want to leave can now do so..."
• Problem: phones are geared toward the white, male vocal range and toward specific languages (English?)
  
  
• Facilitator = 'focalizer'
• On a team, the leader needs to find an excuse to talk with each person every day
  

CAN USE INSTANT MESSAGE AT THE SAME TIME AS CALLLING<BR>

• How do you get people to use Instant Messaging?
  • is this a age difference?
  • is it a matter of getting used to it?
  • need to understand that terseness is not rude on instant messaging -- style of communication may be different
  • there may be more safety
  • using this may make it easier to understand people who have different native languages
  • helps to keep people connected
  • may contribute to fast resolution of issues -- in 1 minute or less <BR>

IMPORTANCE OF & TIPS FOR HOLDING A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING

• are especially important to hold with telecommuters -- can't see objects (and may not be able to have access to them other ways because of security)
• coordinate around weekly team lunches
• try to move people between teams in different locations
• tendency for us vs them is broken down by face-to-face encounters
• helps to build 'favors' bank account
• out of town teammate might be invited to a local members house for dinner
• may want to meet in a country where it is easier for all to get visas

OPEN SOURCE DEVELOPMENT -- volunteer team needs to be:

• encouraged
• enabled

SESSION REVIEW AND FINAL COMMENTS

• Simulation was more engaging than real time discussion
• I work best on a conference call when I know it's true purpose, ceremony, decision
• Send pictures of participants to everyone. This helps to identify then as people.
• I am frustrated that I didn't keep my mouth shut. But, when I do, I disengage.
• IM can be used to replace some phone calls
• Participants need to be able to speak into a microphone -- can't hear everyone.
• Didn't like that we stopped going around the circle.
• Would have liked to hear less about conference calls.
• First have a face-to-face meeting before making conference calls
• Push info onto Wiki
• Have a 'real' conference call first.
• It was disconcerting to be sitting outside the simulated call; hijacking
• Would have like to see 2 simulations, with debriefs, to practice new skills
• Hijacking -- How do you find out?
• Worry about adding items that "fuel" the fire
• Manage the open space.