I offer a number of Slack hands-on training sessions. (Yes, I’ll come to your organization and set up shop.) In these action-packed classes, attendees will learn how to do the following:

• Set up a Slack workspace
• Create an intelligent structure of public and private channels. (Make no mistake: Getting off on the wrong foot can stifle Slack adoption in your organization. I have seen this movie before.)
• Discuss the nuances of sending messages in Slack
• Dramatically reduce the number of emails that your employees send
• Take advantage of Slack’s lesser-known features
• Avoid using Slack to create a toxic, fear-based workplace culture
• Install and configure third-party apps
• Learn about notifications on different devices
• Review Slack’s different search options
• Administer security
• Discuss user privacy
• Cover Slack etiquette
• Avoid the most common mistakes that organizations make when initially adopting Slack
• And more

If you are looking for something other than a full-day Slack session, we can certainly talk.

If there’s one thing that I learned while researching and writing Zoom For Dummies, it’s that very few people understand the application’s true power. I suspect that most Zoom users take advantage of maybe 20 percent of its robust functionality. In the process, they waste a good deal of time and even money paying for apps that duplicate Zoom’s robust functionality.

This is a shame.

Sure, you can use Zoom to make simple video calls, but it offers so much more. Power users know that Zoom can do each of the following:

• Replace the vast majority of internal email.
• Quickly move calls from one device or medium to another.
• Create valuable knowledge repositories.
• Do much more thanks to powerful, third-party apps.
• Host interactive webinars.
• Run powerful usage reports.
• And so much more.

Beyond that, many people don’t fully understand Zoom’s powerful security features. In the process, they expose themselves and their colleagues to a good deal of risk.

At a high level, the agenda breaks down as follows:

Morning Session: Building a Solid Foundation

• Introduction, opening remarks, and icebreaker
• Morning session A
• Mid-morning 15-minute break
• Morning session B

Lunch

Afternoon Session: Adding to the Foundation

• Afternoon session A
• Mid-afternoon 15-minute break
• Afternoon session B
• Closing remarks

In my years as a corporate trainer, I have found that there’s a sweet spot of about eight to twelve attendees for an in-person class. Yes, I’ve taught larger classes with 20 or 30 attendees. This means that I have less time to answer attendees’ individual questions and for them to participate in valuable hands-on exercises. 

Yes, over the course of several days. It’s typically far more effective to hold two classes with fifteen attendees in each rather than a single one with 30. 

Then you’ve got the wrong guy. Over the course of the day, attendees will get their hands dirty. (Active learning is core to my teaching philosophy.)

Depending on the course, attendees will set up Slack workspaces and intact with each other in Zoom Meetings & Chat. Alternatively, they can begin to build the actual team environments that they’ll use at work. Put differently, these are no theoretical classes.

In short, yes. To be sure, we can set up a free accounts at the start of class. To take advantage of each application’s premium features, though, you’ll want to subscribe to a paid plan ahead of time. Few things frustrate attendees more than an instructor futzing with settings that everyone should have addressed before the class started.

Yes, I’ll cover the X’s and O’s of setting up the applications. I’ll also offer tips on how to maximize the chance that each tool sticks in your organization. Change management is a tricky thing and I know a thing or six about it.

When I train, I toggle between Slack or Zoom and simple PowerPoint slides. I’ll ship printed and bound copies of the notes view of the slides ahead of time. This way, attendees can follow along and take notes. My quote covers this.

If you want me to prepare and bring custom training materials, we can talk but I charge extra for that service.

Yes.

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I charge a flat per-day quote for the class. That is, I don’t charge by the hour or by the number of attendees.

In my consulting career, I sometimes had to chase down the money. I don’t play that game anymore.

To book a training class, I require 75 percent of my quote up front. Until I receive payment, then I don’t consider it a booked gig. I’ll submit an invoice for the final 25 percent two weeks before the class to be paid within 30 business days. 

I quote an all-inclusive flat rate. That way, I won’t burden you with expenses after the gig. It’s just cleaner this way.

I arrive the night before and stay in a hotel or an Airbnb. The day of training, I’ll show up early to ensure that everything is set up properly. Measure twice and cut once.

Attendees shouldn’t be waiting on me as I fiddle with switches and network settings. I’d rather be there an hour early than five minutes late.

I try to accommodate attendees’ questions during breaks and lunch. When we finish, I’m happy to take a few more queries but I certainly don’t want to miss my flight.

Either or both. Slack and Zoom run on anything.

You do. I come to you. Yes, I bring my own laptop and I will need to connect to your company’s network to conduct the training. 

Yes, as long as they don’t play billing games with me, something that I unfortunately experienced firsthand as a consultant. 

In short, yes. I don’t mind clarifying a concept or two after our class has concluded. Just remember, though, that I’m not 24/7 tech support and may be tending to my other clients’ needs.