Communicating with people and teams is a challenging process. When we communicate live, we derive substantial meaning from visual cues and body language. Virtual connections must rely on specific tools, techniques, and skills to effectively build relationships and accomplish tasks. This workshop will give you these tools to transform your team’s virtual experience. At the end of this session, participants will be able to: a) Identify challenges in virtual communication and management b) Apply voice and interaction techniques that keep teams engaged c) Use effective strategies to create a productive virtual environment d) Revise traditional management techniques to meet the needs of virtual teams Learning Outcomes: Participants will explore tools and techniques to foster increased productivity and communication efficiency of virtual teams and work models.

1. VIRTUAL LEADERS AND MANAGERS
MASTERING THE ART OF VIRTUAL
CONNECTIONS
Presenters: Ronald Yates and Marachel Knight
Saturday, February 9, 2013 | 11:20a.m. – 12:35p.m.
Washington Marriott Wardman Park | Maryland Suite B

2. Presenter Bios:
Ron Yates Marachel Knight
BEYA 2011 Service BEYA 2013 President’s
Award Winner Award Winner
Ronald Yates, Senior Manager- Program Operations Marachel Knight, Vice President - Program Management
(Strategic Missile & Defense Systems) (Strategic Programs)
Ron Yates is currently the Strategic Missile and Defense System’s Marachel Knight is responsible for managing strategic programs end-to-
Program Operations Manager at the Boeing Company. Ron is end; delivering new products and features; and ensuring operational
responsible for many virtual project management teams throughout readiness for an effortless customer experience. Marachel previously
the US. In 1984 Ron started his career working for the Department of served as Chief of Staff for the Office of the Senior Executive Vice
Defense as an Industrial Engineer. Ron supported the development President-AT&T Technology and Network Operations (ATNO). Marachel
and sustainment of the ICBM land base missile, including the first has over 17 years of experience with AT&T and has held several
implementations of Theory of Constraints and other process leadership positions in Network Planning, Network Engineering, Network
improvement activities. In 1995, Ron transitioned over to Rockwell Operations and Marketing. Marachel is the inventor of the Systems for
International as an Product IPT manager, and was apart of the Use with Multi-Number Cellular Devices patent (#8064876) and has two
transition team when Boeing acquired Rockwell in 1996. Since then, other patent filings pending. In addition to her contributions to AT&T,
Ron has held many different management positions including Marachel contributes to her community and the field of engineering
operations manager, program manager until he was selected for his through her volunteer efforts. Marachel is a licensed Professional
current position. Ron received his Bachelors degree from The Ohio Engineer and certified Project Management Professional. Marachel
State University in Industrial & Systems Engineering, and his Masters received her master's degree in information networking from Carnegie
Degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology in Engineering Mellon University's Information Networking Institute (CMU INI). Marachel
Management. Ron's current hobbies and interests include coaching & has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Florida State
playing most sports, fishing, golfing, singing, and spending as much University. Marachel currently resides in Plano, Texas, and enjoys
time as possible with his wife and three children. reading, traveling and watching football.
Virtual Leaders and Managers: Mastering the Art of Virtual Connections

3. Topic Requirements:
Virtual Leaders and Managers: Mastering the Art of Virtual Connections
Communicating with people and teams is a challenging process. When we communicate
live, we derive substantial meaning from visual cues and body language.
Virtual connections must rely on specific tools, techniques, and skills to effectively
build relationships and accomplish tasks. This workshop will give you these tools to
transform your team’s virtual experience.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
a) Identify challenges in virtual communication and management
b) Apply voice and interaction techniques that keep teams engaged
c) Use effective strategies to create a productive virtual environment
d) Revise traditional management techniques to meet the needs of virtual teams
Learning Outcomes: Participants will explore tools and techniques to foster
increased productivity and communication efficiency of virtual teams and work
models.
Virtual Leaders and Managers: Mastering the Art of Virtual Connections

4. Outline:
•Best Practices and Techniques
•Virtual Tools
•Meeting Netiquette
•Panel and Audience Perspectives
Virtual Leaders and Managers: Mastering the Art of Virtual Connections

5. Establishing Virtual Team Leadership Connections:
Best Practices and Techniques
1. Apply Soft Leadership Skills
• Build Relationships
• Build Trust
• Engage Team
2. Set Very Clear Expectations
3. Generate Commitment
4. Avoid “Out of Sight and Out of Mind”
5. Communicate Regularly
6. Recognize and Utilitize Team Diversity
Virtual Leaders and Managers: Mastering the Art of Virtual Connections

6. Virtual Tools
1. Audio Conferencing Services
2. Desktop Webcam Conferencing Service
3. Email and Instant Messaging
4. Videoconferencing
5. Webcast
6. Blog and Wiki Services
7. Initiatives Database
8. SharePoint (Web-enabled collaboration tool)
9. TeamCenter Community
Virtual Leaders and Managers: Mastering the Art of Virtual Connections

7. Effective and Engaging Strategies for the Virtual
Environment: Setting the Ground Rules
 Identify yourself as you speak.
Meeting Netiquette
 Use key pad on phone to
Virtual meeting ground signal “I have something to say.”
rules create an engaging Press any key twice (except 0).
 Avoid side conversations.
meeting for all participants
 Avoid side tasks (no email, instant messaging, etc).
 Mute telephone if there is disruptive noise in
background. However, if you are in a controlled
environment, consider leaving your phone un-
muted to hear emotions during discussions.
 Take turns speaking; avoid interrupting while others
are speaking.
 Speak loudly and clearly into telephone or speaker.
 Let others know if you can’t hear or understand
them.
Virtual Leaders and Managers: Mastering the Art of Virtual Connections

8. Effective and Engaging Strategies for the Virtual
Environment: Virtual Meeting Tips and Techniques
Pre-meeting:
 Include the SharePoint link and meeting deliverables
 Assign meeting roles (Engagement Manager, Facilitator and Scribe)
 Take breaks during long meetings to allow attendees to handle emergent,
non-team business
During meeting :
 Display team pictures on WebEx
 Review meeting “Netiquette”
 Start on time and enforce breaks time
 Engage others in open dialogue
End of meeting:
 Review decisions, action plans, action items
 Solicit feedback from team members
Virtual Leaders and Managers: Mastering the Art of Virtual Connections

9. TRUST and COMMUNICATION
are the keys to
Virtual Leadership Success
Virtual Leaders and Managers: Mastering the Art of Virtual Connections

10. VIRTUAL LEADERS AND MANAGERS
MASTERING THE ART OF VIRTUAL CONNECTIONS
Presenters: Ronald Yates and Marachel Knight
Saturday, February 9, 2013 | 11:20am – 12:35pm
Washington Marriott Wardman Park | Room