Sequel: ‘Game of Pathways Guides‘

The story continues in G. R. R. Martin style.

We have traveled a long way from the shire and we are now in fine company of four teams of Online Pathways Guides (OPGs) gathering in Base Camp; House Blue; House Green; House Orange; and House Yellow. It is time for the Orientation meetings and the start of our networking.

Each of the OPGs has researched their kingdoms assigned to them in District U and each are reaching out to contact the leaders within. They have been sharing on ‘the wall‘ and with each other, their planned journeys towards kingdoms of the known world, and now its time for them to meet each other in the cloud at Zoom.

There is palpable energy in our Zoom rooms when the teams attend en masse. We learn from each other our progress so far, and of the innovative strategies we have created to build relationships of trust with our kingdoms. We are the ‘global ground breakers‘ and we travel where no Pathways Guide has gone before. Exotic lands beckon us towards the people of the kingdoms and we step forward with cultural sensitivity. We are sculpting a new regime with brand new ideas and resources; and we have outgrown our ‘shires’.

Together we face the dragons of time zones, conquering their fire and minimizing their threat. We bring in the wonder of the great ‘Doodle Poll‘; whose fine algorithms enable the OPGs to pick and choose their best times to attend upcoming Guide Support Sessions.  We modify our presentations to suit the people and prepare to be flexible.

Just like the heroes in Game of Thrones we begin as childlike characters, but mature rapidly, experiencing a huge gain in problem-solving abilities along the way.  So far the OPGs have overcome great challenges to reach their kingdoms and a few have begun to make their presentations to the people.

We have the great Wizard, George Marshall, a knowing, mystical mentor/teacher and formidable leader of House Blue, providing the OPGs with advice and help. He continues to liaise with the Guardians at WHQ and bring back ‘the word’.

Three awesome leaders Michelle Alba-Lim of House Green, Carole McCulloch of House Orange and Mark Snow of House Yellow empower their teams as they prepare for their travels. A great deal of negotiation happens behind the scenes and their communication skills have just risen another notch. Emails are sharpened and messages are sent; online communication spaces are explored and invitations are sent.

The scene now shifts to the global locations for the OPGs as they make their personal preparations! They download their resources from ‘the wall’ at the Facebook domain and they keep track of their progress in the Google domain. Cultural diversity; geographical locations; languages and customs, of the kingdoms are now being explored. Their task for April and May is to make contact and prepare the clubs in those kingdoms – the Great Rollout is Coming.

Next the OPGs will schedule a series of Virtual Support Sessions using innovative strategies and ensuring that members of clubs in District U are supported.

Reports of success and challenges, experienced by the OPGs will be shared at Online Alliance meetings scheduled for end of May and June. You can self-select to attend at:
Online Alliance easy-speak site

Stay tuned for another ongoing story as together we learn how to Manage Club Visits Successfully for Toastmasters in the cloud.