How it works

VIDEO CALLS

Each online meeting can vary according to the needs of its participants.

However, we usually more or less follow this structure:

  1. 10 minutes before the beginning of the meeting, the participants receive an e-mail with a link to the Zoom call. (The hosts may choose an alternative platform, in which case they will inform you by e-mail.)
  2. Once everyone is successfully connected (max. 7 people), the hosts of the group will introduce themselves and what will follow in the meeting (5 minutes). 
  3. Each participant will then be offered space to share where they are in life, how they are doing, how the current situation is impacting them and what they are currently going through (30 minutes).
  4. The other participants in the group actively listen and express understanding. The goal is that everyone feels heard, understood and is taken seriously. 
  5. What follows is a facilitated group discussion. Here the participants can further elaborate on questions or topics that came up during the first part of the meeting and react to others. There is also the possibility of bringing relevant information to the discussion, including advice or tips on how to cope with the situations described (20 minutes).
  6. At the end, each participant will again be given the space to share what they are currently experiencing and what they are taking from the meeting (10 minutes).
  7. The hosts will then thank the participants and close the meeting.

VIDEO CALL RULES

In order to join a Na doslech video call, you need to connect with a device that enables you to transfer both sound and video. In other words, we need to not only hear, but also see each other.

Video calls are also a particular communication medium which requires certain adjustments from listeners, speakers and hosts alike. To ensure clarity in the conversation, we make use of the following gestures:

  • I agree. Good idea! Same here.
  • Raising my hand to speak. I want to make a relevant comment or remark. 
  • I need an individual approach right now.*

*It may happen during the meeting that you find out you do not feel well communicating in a group of people, for example if you touch a sensitive topic for you which you do not want to open in front of others. In that case, you can ask for an individual one-on-one contact. Then one of the hosts may arrange a separate call only with you, where you can continue together.

THE GOLDEN RULE:

UNLESS I’M SPEAKING, MY MICROPHONE REMAINS TURNED OFF.

WHAT WE RECOMMEND

WHEN SPEAKING:

  • Even though there’s a lot going on in you, make frequent pauses in your speech. The others then have a better chance of capturing your thoughts and reflecting on them. These breaks also allow you to better think through where you want to take your speech next. 
  • When you’ve finished sharing, you can close your speech with a statement such as “Thank you for listening”. This will make it clear to everyne, that the space is now open to others. Alternatively, you can ask the group to summarize what they heard with a statement such as: “Could someone please summarize in their own words, what I was just saying?” etc.

WHEN LISTENING:

  • Try to give the person speaking your utmost attention. If possible, avoid any interruptions of their speech, be it to ask questions, evaluate or analyze what was said, give advice or express sympathy. Once you receive the space in the role of the speaker, you can then react to anything you wish. 
  • In the pauses designated by the speaker or moderator, reflect what you heard – paraphrase, summarize, etc. In other words, as best you can, let the person who spoke before you know what it is you heard. 
  • In the process of listening there are no “rights” or “wrongs”. Don’t worry about how you will reflect what was said, the speaker will, if needed, help and clarify if there is something important that you missed.
MOTTO:  “Listen with Attention, Speak with Intention”
“Poslouchejte pozorně, mluvte účelně.”