The business landscape is changing and more employees are working virtually. The benefits are easy to identify: money saved on facilities, flexibility, a 24/7 workforce and hiring based solely on talent - not location. This list goes on.
What about the challenges? Specifically, those associated with communication and collaboration? Dispersed workers still need to work as cohesive teams so what can be done to ensure success?
Changes in management along with technology offer the support that can allow remote employees to be as effective and productive as office-based colleagues.
Technology enables the virtual marketplace but management must also change to reflect, enable and support this new way of working. Trust and performance metrics are increasingly more important.
So where does social media fit in with this? Are timesheets still relevant? For more information on tools like IP Telephony, unified communications and management techniques strategies, download the free whitepaper:Best Practices for Managing a Virtual Team by Frost & Sullivan.
We know – it’s nowhere near the same experience if you record it and watch after you have already heard the outcome of the game. So, conferencing may be the next best thing to taking off work to watch. Just remember to utilize the mute button on your remote and monitor your excitement to avoid sudden outbursts.
Here are some other suggestions for effective conferencing over the phone:
Be prepared. If you are hosting the conference, aim to dial in at least five minutes before the scheduled start time. Remember the other participants can’t talk to each other if you are not there. Ensure everyone knows that you are hosting the call and has the correct dial in numbers and passcodes. Like any other meeting issue an agenda prior to the call and advise participants of the estimated start and finish times.
Be organized. Get the name of each person on the call so that everyone is aware of who has been able to join the call. Use the handset when possible and mute the line when not speaking or if you really need to get out a verbal response to the game. Activating broadcast mode will ensure that the meeting is not disturbed and locking the conference call will not only avoid interruptions from latecomers but will also enhance the security of the call. If you are hosting and need to leave the call early, activate conference continuation. This will allow participants to continue speaking. A recording of the conference is a useful resource - especially when distractions may be involved.
Be polite. Avoid making side noise or walking around the room as voices can fade in and out. Be aware that when you use talk mode, all the participants can hear you. Switch it off if you are not speaking or don’t want your comments heard. Definitely mute the game.
Be Enthusiastic. Remember your voice accounts for 78% of your effectiveness on the telephone. Speak clearly. When asking questions, direct each question to a specific participant whenever possible as open discussions can be confusing when several people are participating. Channel some of that positive futbol enthusiasm!
It’s on our minds at least somewhat frequently - how might I utilize corporate content in such a way that my audience finds it valuable? Even further, how can I go about providing information that will help position my company as a thought leader in its industry and generate leads?
It’s a little like setting up camp. The first priority is setting up the poles that will support the tent. After that the rest of the campsite can extend around the tent. According to Jeanne Hopkins, speaker of the webinar How to Generate Leads with Repurposed Content, tent pole topics provide the foundation for distributing and repurposing content.
The key, Hopkins says, is to provide your audience with something that can help or teach. Once you establish this idea, or your tent pole, you are ready to distribute your content on a number of platforms including podcasts, blog posts, news releases and many more. Those platforms will then allow you to continue to repurpose content for months and even years. Tent pole content sets up a working camp by which you can interact with your audience and maximize lead generation over extended periods of time.
Watch the full version of this Lead Generation Webinar
To succeed in the online marketing space today, you need to create content. We’re not talking ads or promos, but information that’s of value to your customers – the kind of information that will start and nurture the lead generating process.
There is only one problem - it’s hard to create relevant content.
It’s hard for many reasons. Finding time is one reason. Getting technical experts to write is a bear. And another challenge is getting content through “approval hell.”
That’s why once you’ve created valuable original content, you want to make the most of it.
Join Jeanne Hopkins, HubSpot’s Director of Marketing, who brings years of content development conceptualizing in a number of different industries for a free live webinar on Wednesday, June 9th. Hopkins will share practical how-tos based on proven methods for creating content that keeps on giving.
You’ll find out how to:
* Create and promote “tent pole” content
* Repurpose content for multiple uses
* Generate and nurture leads for four months or more with repurposed content
* Determine your customers’ interests through repurposed content
Reserve your spot today for lead generation webinar
Ash continues to wreak havoc. Airport closures are up and flight schedules are experiencing increased delays. Numerous flights have been re-routed and Eurocontrol reports that flight times are extended by at least an hour. According to the Icelandic Weather Services, the situation could continue for some time and fluctuations in the strength of the eruption and in ashfall can still be expected.
So, how do companies maintain efficiency and keep communication open when international travel is complicated? Video conferencing provides an easy-to-implement alternative to meetings that may have otherwise been conducted in person. ACT Conferencing offers high quality video conferencing as well as audio conferencing solutions to organizations worldwide.
Instead of risking missing an important event or spending even more time traveling, consider attending your meeting via a video conferencing. If you need access to a video room, ACT Proximity, a network of more than 4,500 video conference rooms worldwide, offers a convenient, affordable way to conduct business face to face. More and more companies are experiencing the benefits of video conferencing—increased productivity, reduced travel costs, face to face communication—proven by the 30 percent increase in Proximity bookings over the past year.
Do you have a contingency plan?
Almost everyone I know talks about time pressures and about finding ways to get
things done more quickly. In fact, I’ve noticed how many more people ‘rate’ the companies they do business with based on the availability of online tools. A few years ago I wouldn’t have pictured myself as do-it-yourselfer who views the Internet as a lifeline. But I’m there now. Can’t imagine life without the convenience of online banking, shopping and Googling.
Then there’s the ‘how to work more productively’ category of life. Thanks to online conferencing tools from
ACT Conferencing, you can save time related to business meetings. Now this is time well saved! Tools from ACT allow you to order and manage
reservationless audio conferencing and
web collaboration services online; use web-based tools to manage conferences real time; and schedule virtual meetings with the help of a time zone conversion tool. Check out the details at http://www.actconferencing.com/aboutus/press/conferencing-online-tools.aspx.
You will like the choices. For example, you can select unlimited monthly or per minute conferencing subscription plans. And pay and manage bills online. The
Conference Director tool lets hosts monitor participants, control Q&A sessions and chat online with the operator.
ReadyConnect® audio and web conferencing customers can use the
iPortal to create and manage reservationless audio accounts. If you’re like me, you want to save time AND money, which is where toll-free conferencing comes in. ACT offers toll-free access numbers in more than 60 countries. So talk amongst yourselves or with those clients, partners and associates in other countries. Meetings are better with online conferencing tools.
What are the chances that the new channel partner of ACT Conferencing in Mexico is called Grupo ACT (Asesoría y Consultoría Tecnologíca)? Seems like synchronicity, although I suppose that Jung did not have business relationships in mind when he developed the concept. Jung sometimes described synchronicity as “meaningful coincidence,” and I like to think there is much more of this in our lives than we know. I’d say this bodes well for the partnership.
Welcome Grupo ACT as the newest conferencing channel partner of ACT Conferencing!
I always find the Channel Partner show to be exciting. A good chance to see existing customers and meet with potential new partners. Also, the break out sessions are always an opportunity to increase my knowledge of the industry.
Conferencing should get a lot of interest at the show, based on the growth of industry. According to Wainhouse Research, Attended Audio Conferencing minutes grew by 11.9% in 2009 and Unattended Audio Conferencing by 18.9%. Video Conferencing revenue grew by 4.9% and Web Conferencing revenue growth was 29.9% over the previous year. Companies are cutting back their travel budget and many meetings can be handled using our bailiwick of services. Audio, Web and Video conferencing have become a necessity in doing business.
Can't wait to see everyone at the show! Stop by and see us at Booth 1628.
Susan Leach, Channel Manager North America
sleach@acttel.com
Nietzsche, the philosopher, is credited with saying, "Without music, life would be an error". Of course, this was before hold music. But now I can say he’s right. ACT Conferencing’s new hold music is way above average, and this may be the first 15 minutes of fame for the ACT employee, Seth Dunkin, who wrote and produced the tunes. High marks, or should I say big score, for this and a few other conferencing service enhancements that have recently been added. Guest mute override lets the host begin reservationless conference calls in mute mode. If participants want to speak, they can unmute themselves and say what they need to say. Don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to meetings with less traffic noise, restaurant chatter, etc. And these days, who doesn’t want to save a buck? Get a discount if you sign up for an annual web conferencing subscription.
Check out Seth's new hold music at http://www.actconferencing.com/multimedia/hold-music-sample.mp3. And find out about audiocasting, a new PIN option, and what Cayman Islands, India, Philippines, Ukraine and Vietnam have in common at http://www.actconferencing.com/aboutus/press/conferencing-service-enhancements.aspx
Unplanned—and planned absenteeism is everywhere. Companies are realizing that they need to set in place a plan for coping with folks being out due to the H1N1 virus, seasonal influenza, snow storms, baptisms, you name it. The loss of one or several employees for a single day or multiple days can greatly impact productivity, revenue and profitability. In the recently published article "Using Technology to Combat Unplanned Absenteeism in the Work Place," Frost and Sullivan recommends developing a contingency plan that takes a three-pronged approach:
Setting a strong Environment empowers companies improve morale during tough times. It also increases employee retention and thus decreases costs associated with rehiring and retraining staff. Seems like common sense, but it's a tough gig for a lot of companies out there.
Providing Resources or tools is critical for employees who need to work outside of the office. Key tools for employees include easily-accessed ways to keep them connected. Access to web conferencing and audio conferencing services allows meetings to happen anytime—and and more importantly anywhere. Lost time is lost money.
An Action Plan or continuity plan decreases the overall impact on daily operations and productivity.
The most important thing a company can do when an employee is laid up with the flu is to be supportive. But, if he/she feels like logging in, make it possible, and better yet, simple to do.