Those who can't communicate - do everything themselves!

Skilled communicators can share their knowledge. Unskilled communicators must ask for help or risk mistakes.

Parents and managers are responsible for fulfilling goals and allocating resources, and most wise parents and smart managers invest as much in upgrading human abilities as in managing resources. We help parents upgrade the abilities of their children and managers upgrade the abilities of their employees ... we help people improve their skills in parenting, coaching, training and mentorship.

Do you want better communication skills or improved relationships? Both are an essential component of happy families, effective teams and quality organizations.

The Internet provides a medium for world-wide personal and professional communication. Skype is a popular software that offers free audio and video calling over the Internet.

Skype makes Internet communication easy (it's called VOIP). It was released in 2003, and has had several versions and updates ... we are now using Version 5. You can call from a Skype account to other computers registered on Skype without charge - nor for calls to toll free and 800 number telephones in USA / Canada. (In August 2010 Skype claimed there were 124 million active users.)

Your Two Cents Worth

If you want to use Skype call from a computer to landline numbers or cell phones, you can pay via a debit-based payments. Most calls from computers in North America to landline telephones in Europe, for example, cost about 2 cents / minute. Calls to non-USA cellular or mobile phones usually cost more.

Skype's useful features include easy file transfer (e.g. photographs and forms), video calling, instant messaging and audio conference calls. Video conference calls are just starting (November 2010).

You must still check your spelling in text messages yourself. Maybe use a text editor that has spell checking and cut and paste from it to Skype. (Users have been asking Skype for a spell-checker since 2003 ... and in 2010 the company maintained that spell-checking is still under consideration.)

Some steps are:

1. Have a computer with a modern operating system
2. Have a fast internet connection (video calls need at least 128Kbps Upload and 500Kbps download speeds).
3. Download the latest Skype software from www.skype.com
4. Headphones with a microphone (they don't have to be the very best).
5. A webcam to make video calls (standard Skype video is 320x240 resolution at 15 fps).

Download the free Skype software and install it on your computer. Then open Skype and register by selecting the Join option and keying in your details. Set your Skype name and password.

Now add your contacts - click on Contacts and then on Add a contact. Search for a Full Name, an Email address, or a Skype Name.

To make audio calls, connect your headphones to your computer (for privacy - avoid computer speakers unless you want everyone to hear your conversation). Check your list of Contacts.

After you select an online contact, you will see Call and Video Call buttons. Choose a button to start a call ... and hope that someone is by the computer at the other end.

You can adjust your preferences via Tools and then Options - explore the Audio Settings and Video Settings It's worth checking out options in General Settings too. If you are paying to phone a telephone, you will need to set up Skype Access ... (paying by PayPal is usually easiest.)

You can enjoy video calls if you both have webcams (web cameras). Connect the webcam to the computer - usually by a USB cable (most modern laptops have one built in above the monitor).

Skype Audio Conference Calls

Skype conference calls are also free or inexpensive, and useful for couple coaching. We can make Skype conference call using desktops, laptops and some cell phones. If you are traveling, take a headphone-microphone headset for Skype audio calls and also a web camera for video calls (most laptop computers have built-in cameras).

Successful Skype Audio Conference Calls

Through Skype you can communicate with people all over the world. Once you get familiar with Skype, you can call one person, or you can use conference calls to talk to more than one person at the same time. (Currently, it is not possible to initiate a conference call with Skype mobile.)

You can call up to 24 people (audio) or up to 9 people (video). This Skype facility makes collaboration easier. You can talk to committees, teams and family members cheaply and easily. Your group, team or family can collaborate on projects, meetings or other events.

How to Start a Skype Audio Conference

1. Check that everybody has broadband (fast) Internet access.
    
2. Check if everybody has Skype on their computers - if not, ask people to download and install it.
    
3. Check if each person knows how to start and use Skype.
    
4. Sign into Skype and find the Contacts tab in the upper left part of the Skype window There are two Contacts tabs - click on the one by the silhouette).
    
5. You will see your list of Friends. Choose to whom you wish to speak
    
6. If you cannot find the name of the person you wish to talk to, find and add that person to your Friends list.
    
7. Once the person’s name is in the Skype Friends list, double click on that name to commence a Skype call to one person at first.
    
8. If you want to conference with more than one person, right click on that first name. A menu appears ... select Invite to Conference.
    
9. Click on the contact’s name, hold down the Ctrl key and click on the next contact’s name.
    
10. Then click on Invite Selected Contacts to Conference Call.

Once you are on a conference call, ensure that all the invited people are part of the conference call. Now you can talk to the people you selected ...

Skype Video Calls

As with audio calls, first log into Skype. When you call someone, click the video icon (a small circle with a camera silhouette). Your own image should now appear on your monitor. You may both need to adjust your cameras to see and be seen clearly.

Your contact should click Accept Video Call. When your video call is accepted, you should see the other person. If you want to see the other person as a full screen, click the icon with four arrows. (Don't expect high quality images ... even if you have a fast internet connection, some node in between you and the other person might be overloaded and slow. Enjoy high quality images when you have them!)

Skype Video Conference Calls

You can also make Skype video conference calls, if you all have cameras and fast internet connections. (For group video calls with 3 people, you'll each need a minimum connection of 512 kbs downlink, and a 1 GHz processor computer (minimum), or Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz (recommended).)

In Skype 5.0, multiple video-calling is available but still in beta (December 2010). For high quality communication, Skype recommends that you connect to 5 people or less. Everyone on the call will need a broadband internet connection of 1024 kbs downlink or more, and computers with a minimum of Core 2 Duo 2 GHz processors (minimum), or Intel i7 (recommended in 2010).

You can use Skype to arrange couple, family and team coaching. We often use Skype to help people dissolve emotional blocks and build better relationships. We coach people to coach each other. The result: good feelings and relationship skills that continue to improve after our coaching is over.