☎ protocol: CALLS
< DRAFT+ >

Revisions:
    20190730 draft
    20190914 add <d
    20190921 cleanup
    20190921 overview +lies during call
    20200722 first working call after L leaves cht7bf
    20210209 D+L "retry using this" →D
    20210228 quick ping

Ties to:
    * ^XXX🔗calls #TOMERGE !!!!!!
    * 🔗postchatter — we don't like chats
    * [...]




*** PROTOCOLS


* Initiation and Regularity

Is call initiated?:

    Do you have an agreed Initiation Style?:

        →Skip.



    (graph)

[!!!] Remove non-initiation parts from graph

You have INITIATOR(A) and RECEIVER(B).






    (call initiation styles)


        A) Just call me anytime ← BEST
Call me anytime on GSM, we can move to another channel.
Proposed channels are ___.


        B) Call via shared availability slots:
For busy people, this should be more common, published on personal website.
Can be a calendar with open call slots, or the reverse pattern, a fully published calendar ("busy slots").

Example:
    "I am free ___ ("afternoons 3-7PM every day)"


        C) Schedule a call ("Let's talk at XY")
But, this sucks, if you're not sitting in an office.
For some, a "Is this specific office-time slot good for you?" is more meaningless and complicated than it might seem to you.

Responses:
    a) --"OK, might work 70%"
    b) --"I will be there for sure, because it's urgent"
    c) --"I will be there for sure, because I generally have nothing to do"



    (patterns)


  * Establish interest (or obligation) to do it !

"hey, wanna talk sometime next week?"
-- yes !


    * Call for real, or fuck off:
        you give somebody a number
        → you MUST be able to give them a Short Call in so called Reasonable Time
        if not:
            → just stop pretending you want to call & tell them to fuck off


    * Reasonable Regularity:
        * 3 days? 1 week?
        * depends on urgency the initiator gives to call!
        -------
        * ESTABLISH: during Pre-prep?
        * CONFIRM: during Call


    * Good agendas make for short calls:
        Short Calls MUST have a pre-defined agenda


    * Repeat unanswered calls to show urgency:
        (already a commonly recognized way)


    * "Ping-pong" when returning calls:
        A calls, B doesn't answer → B calls back
        if you get called, it's your responsibility to call back !


    * Switch call initiation:
        A calls week 1, B calls week 2


    * When to call?:
        A) anytime !
        B) base on approximate regularity
        C) base on commonly understood SCHEDULE / SCHEDULE FRAME
        D) call more regularly if you think things need to move:
            (because they are not)
            (this might feel counter-intuitive)


    * Pause 2 hours before retrying:
        when to call back, or expect being called back?:
        maybe in an hour or two


    * Don't message about calls:
#antichatter
        Never "when can i call you" message me!
        EXCEPT IF ... / IN THE FORM OF ...


    * Set a regularity expectation:
        "~1/month"


    * Deal with broken regularity:
        1) try impromptu (3x)
        2) try scheduling (3x)
        3) re-set regularity expectation


    * Maintain responsibility for regularity:
        Whose "fault" is it, if calls are not made?
        How bad is this?
        Should there be a baseline for different levels of collaboration?:
            → YES
            people working together see eachother every day, have regular meetings, etc. we should be at least as good as X.


    * Wednesday pong & "short week":
        If we talk (i "pinged") on wednesday
        It's best you pong on monday or tuesday
        Calling wednesday should be a "last resort", OR a "clear" message we should downgrade connection







* Correct Tools & Workflow
Equipment & Context

Apologize and inform in advance if something from this is missing!

:
    * Use earplugs (headphones) with mic !!

    * Don't do it in external noise situation (except if urgent & agreed!)

    * Minimize to correct earphone volume on phone:
        (to not get headaches over it)

    * Call channels:
        * FIRST use GSM to engage and establish the connection
        * KEEP GSM, if you have free minutes
        * OTHERWISE use:
            1) telegram ON PHONE
            2) whatsapp ON PHONE
            3) ###:
                ?????? find other stuff

    * Pick best data channel:
        4G often works better than Wifi !
        You need to experiment and know this in advance (for all locations where you might telephone!)

    * Establish recording policy:
        a) Yes
        b) We agree & assume that no
        ______________
        Tools ###:
            android call recorder






*** AGENDA BITS

Recomposing & shuffling different agenda bits / patterns / modules.
aka "MODULAR CALL TEMPLATES"
aka "OTHER AGENDAS"
aka "SUB-AGENDAS"


* regular updates

Outside main project:
    * what have you been up to, where do you find yourself
    * what's new on work on other (non-CHT) projects

Inside main project:
    * news from outside
    * new tasks
    * brief reports
    * [...] ###



* overview general works & todos

Go to regular todo docs.

### too CHT-specific
always / often:
    * 🔗works
    * ^XXX🔗todos
    * 🔗todos
    * [...]

also / sometimes:
    * ^XXX🔗agenda — mid-term plans
    * [...]



* ping personal work index
### THIS IS A PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS BIT ?
### [→] move this somewhere else

aka "main (personal) work pad"

:
    * "level zero" TOC overview:
        aka "make sure TOC is not totally fucked"
    * check "[C" tasks
    * [...] ###



* overview / salvage old calls

Check 1-3 previous call logs.



* pick random task → just do it

Just do it !
(especially from 🔗works)



* editorial on specific pad

###



* presto reading and improving pads

Pick a random pad and push it.
Or, something we haven't touched in a while
Usually PD→D.

A) via 🔗oversee
B) via personal indexes
C) ###



* push the pod

Use auto tools! :
    * find "!!!!!!" and "??????" tasks
    * overview NOW points



* work reporting

^XXX🔗index-now
Check:
    * dated logs
    * pad indexes



( HOW TO PICK BITS )

Curating agenda.

* Essential:
    "We must always push 2 or 3 pads."

* Cycles:
    "We haven't done Works in a while"

* Shuffle:
    "Throw a dice! Oh no, it's salvaging time!"



( GOOD PRACTICES )

    * FAST SKIPPING

Do the more regular partss really fast.
Like, all tasks — just run through them!
This could produce imprints.

    * EXECUTE > PLAN

Don't spend more time on planning than on doing!
"Does it make sense to keep re-reading the tasks?"


    * AGENDA FOR NEW COLLABORATORS

Either:
    A) pre-write an agenda & pre-share the link in a pad
    B) just improvise it (assembled as point #0)






*** ¶¶ META-AGENDA


PART -1: PRE-PREP

    * The agenda !

* Create day pad
* apply the theme:
    ###
* replicate meta-agenda
* check the last one (or few!) and refer to those points !



PART 0: HELLO

    * (Sound check)

    * (Finish what you're working on)
(outside of the call, like eating, writing something, etc)

    * (Chat what's up)

    * (Establish time constraints)

* Decide on approx time interval (length):
    * "short" ~20min
    * "optimum" ~1-2h
    * "marathon" ~4h




PART 1: AGENDA SETTING

Start with an "off-the-cuff" agenda reflection.


    * brainstorm agenda


    * take a short break:
        * independent review of agenda
        * ... finding & tagging DONE parts <------------ not sure what this means


    * review

    * "break out" parts (=B+U)

    * make quick remarks

    * ... and try to form "fragments" like pieces:
        (sometimes even already making them DONE)


    * reprioretize current agenda:

each suggests (ping-pong) style:
        * re-sorting points of order
        * ... either as:
            A) "ANARCHIST":
                move stuff yourself to appropriate position in agenda
            B) "ORDERLY":
                suggestions to a Single Editor Person
        _____________________
        Stuff that typical gets priority:
            * time-critical shit !!
            * cleaning up, merging fragments, etc
            * [...]







PART 2: →MAIN WORK←

    * Do note-taking !

    * decide on place to make notes:
        a) daily pad !:
        b) inter-personal pad

    * make notes!:
        (using 🔗workflow-ethering)

    * "one person talks, other makes notes" !!


    * Perform pre-written agenda


    * Perform "bits"

↓ BITS






PART 3: WRAP UP

    * Do a full-pass
(of the pad)

    * Discuss next call
(timing, expectations, etc)

    * Establish/repeat "urgent todos for right now"
(even though they're also written down etc)




PART 4 : POST CALL


    * Add to index


    * Clean up & cut up / "salvage" the pad
    1) Mark down the fragments, fold the TOC
    2) Move:
        * to topic pads
        * to todos (or Just Do It)


    * Shape agenda for next time:
        Keep & continue a common agenda!
        * overview it every time
        * respect now-point


    * →→→ PRE-PREP






______________

(UNSORTED)

* do several quick passes

* skip stuff

* designate symbols for call parts:
    did we finish with this?
    do we need to return to it?
    is it useful info?
    ____________________________________
    ... standard fragment symbols?

* return to previous calls

* [...]


<---------------------------- (new)







*** CUES

Also see 🔗cues.
### maybe merge


* "What's going on?"


* "I'll be there in 1min":
    see 🔗time


* "UH-HUH" (nods)
Give regular "nods" throughout the call.
    * "uh-huh" so to clearly affirm you are there, on the right line, etc
    * "i see" : i'm on the right line in a pad.... (= just wiggle your cursor!)
    * ###


* "CONTEXT CHECK!"

"is context ok?"
(if there are weird sounds around, etc)


* "TEST!"

In bad connection, when switching microphones, etc.

"test test test"
-- "OK". 


* "THIS IS TERRIBLE!"

Change equipment.
Re-establish the call.







*** PAD


[!] workflow/tools -- we need screen-sharing #workflow !!!

* would be faster for many tasks we are doing
* perhaps two-sided would be best !!!

_________

A) jitsi works (but ... not secure ... in a way?!)
B) dedicated app ???:
    anything free, but cross-platform?:
    just ... VNC i guess?



[!↑] good meetings resources

### merge to a "resources" part

https://meetingexpectations.surge.sh/#/20
<dmytri


<-------------------------- ((new))