In the weeks to come, we’ll be cancelling face to face meetings, but we are committed to continue delivering value for our members and the profession. We’ll be offering curated member blog posts and interviews, COVID-19 insights for communication professions and best practice webinars via IABC international, and one-on-one ZOOM coffee connections sign-ups to introduce you to people who have developed shortcuts and strategies to get the job done effectively in 2020, AC.

— Jenny Matkovich, IABCLA President

By Deborah Hudson, ABC
IABCLA Vice President, Member Retention; Past President

I am a fan of the virtual workplace. For more than half of my career I’ve worked from home, attached to my team by phone and eventually GoToMeeting and Zoom. Once, when I was not working virtually, my company discovered asbestos in the building and everyone in the building moved home within days. With COVID-19 quarantine, lots of colleagues are joining me in the virtual workplace.

Here are a few lessons I learned that may be of help:
1. You have to be disciplined. Check in and check out. You may be tempted to do a little housework midmorning. Don’t. More importantly, when you walk by your office after dinner, don’t boot up your computer “for just a few minutes.” It’ll be a few hours.
2. Without the water cooler, you’ll need to make a consistent effort to check in personally as well as professionally. How is Jane’s mom doing? What’s happening with Denny’s kids?
3. Silver linings: at home you can play your music loud, subvocalize, and write off a percentage of space and utilities on taxes.

Leading Remote Teams:
Keeping a scattered team on task, in synch and motivated is a challenge. For several years, I led a global communications team, tied together with a monthly teleconference call.

Here are a few things I learned that made remote collaboration work for me and my team:
1. Distribute an agenda and stay on track.
2. Start with one-on-ones. You need to know team members – what are their work issues, how are they managing through the COVID-19 quarantines? Are there kids at home? Parents? Roommates or partners sharing internet?
What would be the best way for them to work with the team?
3. Teleconferences are better than nothing, but bad teleconferences can be worse.

Here are some fundamentals:
1. Start with a structured check-in from everyone.
2. When you lead a team conference, it’s your job to surface issues, make sure everyone is participating, and create space for innovation and challenge. It’s easier for people to “hide” in a teleconference than in a team meeting. Find a way to draw everyone out. Inject some fun.
3. End by summarizing issues and listing actions and responsibilities. Schedule the next call.

About the Author:
Deborah is a writer and communications consultant, providing advice, research and coaching to business partners, as well as developing and facilitating writing skills workshops. As a corporate communications leader, she was Global Editor-in-Chief and Global Head of Employee Communications for Zurich Insurance. Previously she managed internal CEO communications and community relations strategy for Farmers Insurance. She is a graduate of Yale University. Find her on Twitter and LinkedIn

Thank you to all who attended IABCLA’s Brag N’ Brew on March 10 at The Cat & Fiddle in LA. Guests enjoyed sliders, pints, and lively conversation at the longtime British themed bar.

Join the chapter for its next event, a Coffee Connection on March 28 from 9 - 10:30 a.m. at
Tanner's Coffee Co in Culver City. The topic will be “Power Up Your Team”: IABCLA board member Ephraim Freed will discuss how to make a comms team stronger and more effective.
To sign up, click here. 

Please stay up to date on IABCLA events and activities by visiting the chapter's website and by following the group on social media: iabcla.com, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

(Note: I’m IABCLA's vice president of operations, and I often post updates on chapter happenings.)

Street parking is available on Highland Avenue;
​valet parking is $7.

Remember: bragging is mandatory! 

(Note: I’m the vice president/president-elect of IABCLA, and I often post updates 
​on chapter happenings.)

IABCLA would like to express appreciation to everyone who contributed to the chapter
​in 2019 and reflect on the chapter's accomplishments during the past 12 months.

The final event of the decade was a Holiday Mixer on December 10 in the Arts District in Downtown LA. Guests enjoyed drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and lively conversation. 

The mixer was just one of many functions — there were also five Coffee Connections, two professional development happenings, a Dine & Discuss, and a second mixer in the spring.
​A range of vital communications topics were covered, including “Navigating the Comms Job Market in LA,” “External Communications in the Digital Age,” and “Creating a Social Media Strategy for Your Career.” 

It was a big year for chapter comms, as well. The chapter redesigned its website (iabcla.com), began distributing a newsletter, set up an Instagram account, and started a member profile that's distributed across its various platforms (website, newsletter, social media).

The group is also building ties to the next generation of communicators — two networking events were held between IABCLA and the IABC group at USC, and the board added the position of director of student involvement. 

In other board news, two new people joined the leadership team — Vinisha Kothari and Rachel Mann. IABCLA is now looking for more dynamic folks to join the board, so please contact IABCLA President Jenny Matkovich — president@iabcla.com — if you're interested.  

On the IABC national and international front, three board members attended the organization's annual Leadership Institute. And, the chapter hosted a certification orientation for those who'd like to earn the association's Communication Management Professional (CMP) and Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) designations.

Be sure to follow IABCLA on social media for the latest news and information in 2020: 
Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram. 

(Note: I’m the vice president/president-elect of IABCLA, and I often post updates
​on chapter happenings.)

Thank you to all who came to IABCLA’s Holiday Mixer on December 10 at Wine Stop in the Arts District in Downtown LA! Guests enjoyed drinks, hors d'oeuvres and lively conversation. Proceeds from the event went to the Downtown Women’s Center, dedicated to serving LA women who are experiencing homelessness.

During the gathering, IABCLA board Ephraim Freed addressed partygoers and explained why the organization is meaningful to him: “What I value is the consistency of IABCLA and having a place to come back and connect with people no matter what job I’m in or the type of communications tasks I’m taking on. We have this wonderful community of folks who care about similar things and do similar work and it’s really special."

The event concluded IABCLA’s programming for the year. Be sure to follow the group on social media for news of future happenings: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram.
​
Happy holidays, and thank you to all who contributed to the chapter's success in 2019! 

(Note: I’m the vice president/president-elect of IABCLA, and I often post updates
​on chapter happenings.)

‘Tis the season, so join IABCLA for a warm and relaxing Holiday Mixer! The chapter will gather for wine, nipples and conversation on Monday, December 10 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at
Wine Stop in the Arts District in Downtown LA. 

By attending, you’ll also support a good cause — proceeds from the event will go to the Downtown Women’s Center, dedicated to serving LA women who are experiencing homelessness.

The gathering will be held in a private room at the Wine Stop, and both street and lot parking are available near the venue. 

Tickets are $10 for IABCLA members, $25 for nonmembers and $10 for full-time students — two drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided. Register today by clicking here! 

IABCLA is the organization to meet some of LA’s top communicators — content managers, marketing directors, brand managers, employee engagement specialists, and social media mavens regularly attend chapter events. Join them on December 10!

(Note: I’m the vice president/president-elect of IABCLA, and I often post updates on chapter happenings.)

What positions would you like to hold on your career journey? Which projects would you like to work on? How will you get there? Developing a social media strategy for your career can put you in a position to choose from an variety of options!

Join IABCLA and Caroline Leach — the author of “What Successful People Do in Social Media: A Short Guide to Boosting Your Career” — for an interactive session on how to establish yourself as a thought leader in your field through social media. The event will take place on November 19 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at WeWork Gas Company Tower, 555 W 5th St
35th Floor in Los Angeles.

Caroline will share:
- The data behind why everyone needs a social media strategy for their career
- How to create your own social media plan and fit it into your professional life
- Easy ways to pump up your LinkedIn profile and attract opportunities
​
You must RSVP prior to the event to attend — please sign up by clicking here. Snacks and drinks are included in the ticket price. 

Thank you to our event sponsors CivicFeed and (W)right On Communications for hosting IABCLA at WeWork DTLA.

(Note: I’m the vice president/president-elect of IABCLA, and I often post updates on chapter happenings.)

The discussion will be focused on job searching/interviews, the value of a graduate degree, and professional development. Vinisha Kothari and Tery Amaya, both board members of IABCLA, will guide the conversation. Vinisha is a strategic communicator at Young’s Market Company, and Tery is the communications lead for Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Both hold master’s degree in communication management from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism.

Bring your top career tips and take part in a morning of coffee and conversation — click here to sign up. P.S. the first cup of coffee is on IABCLA!
​
(Note: I’m the vice president/president-elect of IABCLA, and I often post updates on chapter happenings.)