No one else was in the room, but ten other practitioners considered her problem and offered advice. Some were at their desks in northern Ontario. Some were at home or at work in towns and cities across southern Ontario. People from all across the country and even south of the border have been invited to the next meeting. It could have been a conference call, costing hundreds of dollars, but this didn’t cost her a cent. It was a virtual meeting at Contact Point’s C-SPACE.

We communicate electronically on a daily basis. Everyone uses the phone (or a TDD for those who are Deaf), most of us have email now and it may be time to add chat to your list of communication tools. Certain sectors were quick to recognize the value of electronic text exchange as a business communication tool. Investment professionals and Health practitioners were among the first, recognizing that simultaneous information exchange with no long distance charges made perfect sense. Stock brokers spoke to clients and buyers, while doctors and scientists consulted each other and shared research results. Then nurses took it one step further by forming support groups and online workshops. Teachers joined in next and now there are professional networking and support chat groups for a myriad of occupations, from zoologists to actors.

The session mentioned at the beginning of this article was a networking group facilitated by Contact Point volunteer Lisa Hoekstra for Job Developers, practitioners who often face very different issues and challenges from others in their organizations. To counter that isolation, they are meeting monthly to problem solve, share resources, coach each other and network. If the need arises, they also know that they can send an email to a colleague requesting a one-to-one chat in a private room at C-SPACE.

Job Developers have been using the Contact Point Discussion Forum for the past two years and were eager to add direct interaction through a chat support group. All that was needed was someone to take the lead. Lisa Hoekstra was ready for a new challenge. Four years ago when she was hired as a Job Developer, there was very little training. While she was searching for jobs for clients she had to experiment with methods and make contacts. She was developing her position and skills as she went. Now with confidence and experience behind her, she recognized the need for networking and support amongst her peers. Thanks to Lisa and the other participants in the Discussion Forum, The Job Developers’ Networking and Support Group was born.

This is just one example of how chat can contribute to building a professional community. Another approach that is becoming increasingly popular is E-Mentoring. Usually this involves not only email, but real-time conversations in private chat rooms or in a business chat facility such as C-SPACE. Is there someone whose book you have read or who gave a wonderful workshop that you would like to ask to be your mentor? Geographic restraints are irrelevant, widening the scope tremendously and allowing you to focus on other factors to find the right match.

If mentorship is not an option, then perhaps they would agree to be a guest speaker for your professional association or an informal support group. For smaller groups, online workshops are popular. You can circulate materials in advance via email, and then have discussions online. Some types of exercises are effective in chat. If it requires communication, and does not have a tactile element, it can be adapted to a chat environment.

For larger groups, a moderated chat may be preferred. This has more of a lecture format. Everyone can see what the speaker is saying, but audience members can’t talk to each other. The screen is reserved for the presenter, and for the Q & A. Questions from the audience are sent to a moderator who screens and forwards them to the speaker.

C-SPACE is already being put to good use. As a follow-up to his three article series in the Contact Point Bulletin [see Spring, Summer and Fall 2000 issues], Danniel Star recently spoke to a small group interested in learning how to increase their emotional intelligence. It was his first time, and although he normally is one to watch his audience for non-verbal cues, he adapted quickly and found chat to be “painless and fun.” He opened with a reflective exercise which allowed newcomers to adjust to the medium as he guided them through the thought processes. From there he moved on to discussion and questions from the group. He sees a lot of potential for chat as a learning medium, especially when people have read material and prepared questions prior to meeting or where they are exploring options. He closes with “I was honoured to have the opportunity to present and would definitely do it again.”

Is there someone you have wanted to address your group, but you just could not afford the airfare and accommodation? Why not ask them to talk to you online?

For those of you who are computer shy, chat is quite simple. There are complex packages with paging, split pages, sound, video and more, but we have chosen to begin with the most basic and least complicated. As the user base grows, we may be adding more features, but for the present there is no additional software or reconfiguration requirements – all you need is your password. If you already participate in the Discussion Forum at Contact Point, you can use the same password. When the chat software is fully loaded, you can type your comments in the “message box” and hit enter when you are ready to send them to the screen.

Until you have used it, you may not realize that chat is a natural medium for brainstorming. Next time you want some help with problem solving, ask some people to meet you at C-SPACE. When the ideas start to flow, you won’t even need a recorder, just scroll back over the dialogue. You can copy any portions you want to save by clicking on the paragraph. It appears in your message box and you can then save it to a word processing file or notepad.

So if you would like to connect with someone that you met a conference, consult a colleague, meet your mentor online or start a support and networking group, please send us your ideas. We hope you will be saying “Meet me at Contact Point’s C-SPACE.”

 

In Their Own Words

Lisa Hoekstra writes:

“I am very excited to be the facilitator for Contact Point’s Job Developers’ Networking and Chat. I think that this is an ideal opportunity for job developers to work together to come up with creative ways to find employment for their clients. It is comforting to know that we experience similar issues and by utilizing this forum we can support each other and provide suggestions or problem solve together. As job developers across Canada develop our network, we will have a better understanding of the range of needs in different communities. I look forward to these Chats as an opportunity for learning and growth.”
Kim Longwell attended the first job developer session because her manager suggested that she try it out. Afterwards she wrote,

“I think that the Job Developer’s group will be helpful to me as a Career Counsellor who is new to the field of Job Development. I was able to receive suggestions from individuals who are currently working in the field and expand my network of contacts.”

Upcoming Virtual Events
Thursday April 26, 2001at 3:30 pm
Eastern Time
Job Developers’ Network and Support Group.

Join Lisa Hoekstra and other job developers across Canada as they discuss methods of approaching employers.

 

Monday May 14, 2001 at 4 pm
Eastern Time,
Chat Practice.

Feel like experimenting? Try out the chat space. It won’t take long to become comfortable.

 

Thursday May 17, 2001 at 3:30 pm
Eastern Time,
Job Developers’ Network and Support Group.

Join in on the discussion about Marketing Hard To Place Clients.

 

If you are computer shy or just new to chat, feel free to drop in for some help. Orientation for beginners is also available by emailing admin@contactpoint.ca.

Note on Timezones:
Pacific Time (B.C.) subtract 3 hours, Mountain Time (Alberta) subtract 2 hours, Central Time (Saskatchewan and Manitoba) subtract 1 hour, Atlantic Time (Maritimes) add one hour and Newfoundland add one and half hours.