Top Ten Tools for Upping Your teleclass etiquette
By Jean Johnson 

We love feedback, and boy do you give it to us, both positive comments and "constructive criticism".  And that's great, we read and relish every feedback email we receive. Lately, we've received several comments from members and instructors that some people on the calls have forgotten their teleclass etiquette, so here, for your listening pleasure on future calls, are the Top Ten Tools for Upping Your teleclass etiquette.

1. SIGN UP

2. SHOW UP!

So please, show up for your class, or if you find you cannot attend, please unregister. Instructors have a roster of who is registered, and they make an effort to wait for folks to show up before starting the class. This can mean that a class is delayed by several minutes for no-shows. This is disconcerting to both participants and instructors. You can unregister by following these directions when you are logged in at the CoachVille site:

• Click "My Account"
• Click "See a list of any transactions"
• Find the event you want to cancel
• Hit Cancel and then Confirm

3. BEFORE YOU DIAL UP

Call waiting can also be very distracting, please disable it before calling in. For most local phone companies you can do that by hitting *70 after you hear a dial tone. When the dial tone returns, dial the bridge number. If that doesn't work check with your local phone company, it may be different with your provider. If you have a multiple line phone, please turn the ringer off on the second line.

4. CLEAR UP

Also, please don't use speakerphones. The clarity/quality isn't good enough; and unless you use a mute button the background noise can be overwhelming. Portable phones that either have a low battery or are too far from their base creates a noise on the bridge. We ask that students avoid portable phones. Cell phones and internet phones. We understand that sometimes a call from a cell phone is the only way you can call in, we just ask that if the instructor indicates that there is a noise problem, that you be considerate to the other students and hang up and call back on a different phone.

5. START UP

When calling the bridge line please be punctual. If you call in early you may interfere with another class. If you're late to the call just dial in and listen until you pick up on what's being discussed. You may or may not be officially welcomed, depending on how far the teleclass leader is into the call. But be sure you are welcome! If you have to come into a call more than ten (10) minutes late be considerate about asking questions, they may have already been asked and answered.

We'll be instituting a new attendance checking system shortly, watch for the announcement. What this will mean is that if you are late for a call, or leave early, you may be marked as absent from the total call.

6. MUTE UP

Please, please, please use your telephone's mute button if you are in a noisy environment or on one of our bridges. Background noise, the dog barking, radios, heavy breathing, snoring etc., could be a problem if 150 callers (or even just one) all aren't using their mute buttons. If you don't have a mute button, call from a quiet location, or use something to cover your mouthpiece.

7. CLEAN UP

It doesn't happen often, and it seems like we shouldn't have to say anything, but please, be aware of your language. This is not the place for profanity or personal religious or political criticisms. Calls are a great place to practice being non judgmental!

8. BE UP

It goes without saying that you'll communicate cleanly and in an upbeat manner. Gracious and positive are the order of the day.

9. LISTEN UP

Please don't multitask! It's tempting, we know. There's email to read, desks to clean, dishes to clear. But you'll get more out of the calls if you are totally present and participating.

10. HANG UP

And finally, (whew!) Please do not hang up prior to the class actually ending. It's not respectful of the others on the call when you hang up while they are still talking and sharing, and all those hang up sounds are very distracting. If you know you have to come to a call late, or leave the call early, please email the instructor prior to the class to let her/him know!

Jean Johnson is a full-time coach and trainer, and part-time writer. She is also a wife, a mom, a step-mom, a dog mom, a business owner, and a member of Coachville. Her coaching style is direct, honest, intuitive, and fun. Her coaching emphasis is helping mid-life women discover how to make the second half of their life the best half. You can contact her or sign up for her newsletter at jean@livingmore.org.