Managing remote and virtual employees is a challenging role. There are personalities to take into account, communication styles people prefer to interface with as well as coaching and training.
We came across this article from the Puget Sound Business Journal written by motivational speaker and Bob Nelson. He brings up some valuable points to take into consideration when managing people remotely.
Build trust with remote and virtual employees
According to a U.S. Labor Department report, about one in 10 employees today has an alternative work arrangement. Managing employees who are not physically located near you is a particular challenge.
Perhaps your employees are located at a different facility or even in a different state (remote employees), or maybe they're telecommuting (virtual employees). Regardless of the reason for the separation, these new "distance" working relationships make it harder for managers to identify and acknowledge desired behavior and performance.
Managers must be more systematic and intentional in looking for opportunities to recognize their employees when those instances are less obvious.
If you are charged with the responsibility of managing remote teams, consider these ideas:
Build a foundation of trust. The starting point in almost any strong working relationship -- virtual or not -- is trust. Without the daily face-to-face contact between manager and employee, trust is more vulnerable to breakdown. Virtual and remote employees, in particular, must know that their managers trust them to carry out everyday work functions, be competent to do the basic job with little or no supervision, and perform to the established standards.
Make time for people. Despite the advances in virtual offices and remote locations, there's no substitute for "face time" when it comes to building trusting relationships. Managing is a people job so, naturally, you need to make time for people. If your employees are in the office infrequently, meeting with them when they are around has to be a higher priority. How time together is spent makes a difference as well. Talk about real issues of importance to employees.
Maintaining a sense of teamwork. When employees are not in the same place, organizations must still create and sustain a strong sense of camaraderie, commitment and collaboration. Managers can take a proactive role in fostering a sense of teamwork by establishing regular times for telephone calls, e-mail messages, teleconferences, videoconferences and computer chats. Electronic message boards can be used for ongoing communication about progress on critical aspects of the team's work. Communicating in these ways gives virtual employees the opportunity to exchange ideas with team members, talk about the problems they may be having, discuss ways to improve, evaluate the team's progress, share ideas, get feedback, brainstorm new ideas, and discuss strategies. Everyone needs a forum in which to share problems and acknowledge successes.
This last point is critical. For team recognition to be effective, you must acknowledge success. If you don't focus on positive results along the way, you won't get more of the same.
Bob Nelson is president of Nelson Motivation Inc. in San Diego and an author of numerous employee business books. Reach him at bnelson@bizjournals.com.
To view this article at it's source, please visit http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2003/09/15/smallb4.html
We hope you found this helpful!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Steve Maynard: Guest Speaker at Wilfred Laurier University
Steve Maynard, Director of Sales has been invited to lead Alumni Career Connections sessions at his alma mater, Wifred Laurier University:
B2B: Career Connections (Student Event)
Confused about which career path is right for you?
If so, join us at Career Connections to meet and receive career advice from Laurier alumni who have chosen their path!
Laurier alumni who have found a career in a variety of industries will be available to answer all of your questions. Spend a great evening:
Acquiring professional advice
Networking with Laurier alumni
Discovering potential career paths
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Time: 5:30 - 7pm
Cost: Free!
Pre-registration is required.
Location: Senate & Board Chamber
http://www.laurieralumni.ca/alumni/events?calendar_id=101
Read what Laurier has to say:
Stephen Maynard, Director of Sales and Founder
Recite Conferencing
Table 6—Sales: Telecommunications
Major: Economics
Extracurriculars: Icebreaker, Fashion ‘n Motion, Winter
Carnival, UBG
Number of Years in Industry: 6
When starting his career, Stephen aligned himself with large organizations to build his
résumé. A mentor encouraged him to move from a purchasing role to a sales position
within Nortel as he was displaying natural ability. Stephen then obtained a sales
position with a small start up company in the conferencing industry (telephone, video
and web conferring). He is now with his third start up company and has moved back in
the conferencing industry as a founder of Recite Conferencing. His role as Director of
Sales is heavily focused on training and supporting the sales team, acquiring new
customers and planning the strategic direction of the company. Stephen has also
completed multiple sales and management courses and a number of industry‐specific
technical certifications to become the company specialist in certain fields.
http://www.laurieralumni.ca/bank/pageimages/Career%20Connections%202009%20Program%20-%20For%20Web.pdf
If you are interested in participating, please register at the Laurier site.
Enjoy!
B2B: Career Connections (Student Event)
Confused about which career path is right for you?
If so, join us at Career Connections to meet and receive career advice from Laurier alumni who have chosen their path!
Laurier alumni who have found a career in a variety of industries will be available to answer all of your questions. Spend a great evening:
Acquiring professional advice
Networking with Laurier alumni
Discovering potential career paths
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Time: 5:30 - 7pm
Cost: Free!
Pre-registration is required.
Location: Senate & Board Chamber
http://www.laurieralumni.ca/alumni/events?calendar_id=101
Read what Laurier has to say:
Stephen Maynard, Director of Sales and Founder
Recite Conferencing
Table 6—Sales: Telecommunications
Major: Economics
Extracurriculars: Icebreaker, Fashion ‘n Motion, Winter
Carnival, UBG
Number of Years in Industry: 6
When starting his career, Stephen aligned himself with large organizations to build his
résumé. A mentor encouraged him to move from a purchasing role to a sales position
within Nortel as he was displaying natural ability. Stephen then obtained a sales
position with a small start up company in the conferencing industry (telephone, video
and web conferring). He is now with his third start up company and has moved back in
the conferencing industry as a founder of Recite Conferencing. His role as Director of
Sales is heavily focused on training and supporting the sales team, acquiring new
customers and planning the strategic direction of the company. Stephen has also
completed multiple sales and management courses and a number of industry‐specific
technical certifications to become the company specialist in certain fields.
http://www.laurieralumni.ca/bank/pageimages/Career%20Connections%202009%20Program%20-%20For%20Web.pdf
If you are interested in participating, please register at the Laurier site.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Telecommuting: Part of the Green Initiative
How can Canada go green in the knowledge age?
Here is an interesting article from Paul Lima at the CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/tech/hightech/telecommute.html
TelecommutingWorking from home: Is it for you?
Last Updated January 30, 2008
By Paul Lima
I am not an environmentalist. The family recycles and we have a composter, but I have an SUV. I bought it before Al Gore released An Inconvenient Truth and environmental concerns became in-your-face issues. Having said that, I suspect most car owners, and even people who take public transit, burn up more fossil fuel than I do.
I work from home as a freelance writer, and have done so for almost 17 years.
Every day, I wake up, grab a mug of tea and commute from my bedroom to my home office. I haven't met most of my editors or clients. I file my work by e-mail and we communicate by e-mail unless an issue seems complex, in which case I pick up the phone. Occasionally, I attend initial client meetings, but they are rare. While I'd love to attend a meeting with my client in Belgium, I don't think that will happen any time soon.
In addition to freelance writing, I teach continuing education business writing and copywriting courses for the University of Toronto. Until last year, that involved commuting downtown one night a week. Not any more. All the courses I teach are now online. That means students and the teacher are not driving or taking transit anywhere.
All that being said, I do not have the world's most sophisticated technological set up. I have a phone and a three-year-old computer with a broadband internet connection.
If I can use this technology to successfully work from home — with editors, clients and students across Canada, in the United States and in Europe — then why can't more people in corporations, organizations and government offices do likewise? Why do they have to clog our highways every morning and afternoon to commute to work?
A number of years ago, management consultant and university professor Peter Drucker wrote, "Why would any company pay in salary and time to transport a 190-pound body, when all it needed was the body's three pound brain?" Was he just ahead of his time?
If he was, he's gaining supporters for the idea. While Daniel Pink does not think the office cubicle will disappear, he says there will come a day when far fewer people commute to central locations.
"Collecting people in giant office towers does not make sense economically and environmentally," says Pink, a business consultant and author of A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age.
A few companies pay lip service to telecommuting and virtual businesses, and they maintain pockets of employees in different parts of the country, or world. But in the downtowns of major urban centres, construction crews are still building skyscrapers for white-collar workers, many of whom commute from outlying areas of cities. Even if they take public transit, they often have to drive to and from transit parking lots. Such is the idiocy of urban transportation.
Take, for example, Change is in the Air: Toronto's Commitment to an Environmentally Sustainable Future, the city of Toronto's framework to tackle climate change. It contains 27 proposed actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but pays next to no attention to reducing commuting.
In fact, it sees commuters as a revenue stream. The plan calls for annual parking or motor vehicle registration fees. And, of course, there is talk of road tolls. Instead of reducing, and where possible eliminating, the city's fleet of vehicles that run on diesel, the plan talks of converting them to biodiesel fuel. I suppose we can then wait several decades for scientists to figure out what environmental problems and cancers such fuels cause.
Sadly, in the information age, we are still thinking like an industrial economy where workers have to be in one place to turn out a product. Management is not able to let go of the notion that bodies gathered in one place equal productivity. That is no longer the case when it comes to most white-collar, knowledge-based and information processing work.
On-line collaboration applications can run on internal networks or be set up for access via the internet. They can be used to help teams or departments span distances common in today's far-flung, mobile workforce. Instead of relying on meetings, the telephone and e-mails to get things done, groups can meet in real time in a portal — an on-line web-based meeting room — and use text chat to discuss issues while sharing files or viewing presentations.
Web portals can also be used as a repository for all information pertaining to a project or department. Defined users can access the portal to discuss or review specific aspects of a project. Documents that reside in the portal can be locked while one person is updating them so that others will not end up working from old material, or members of a team can meet in the portal to collaborate on creating a new document or revising an old one.
In addition, companies can use web conferencing to conduct employee training, introduce clients to new products and offer customer support.
While e-mail and instant messaging (IM) are considered collaboration tools, online or web-based tools are an important part of this growing market. The value of the collaborative application market in Canada will reach almost $160 million this year, and grow to more than $180 million by 2010, according to a recent International Data Corporation (IDC) Canada report, Finding the collaborative opportunity in Canada.
Sounds impressive, but that is a drop in the bucket of what it could be if we took telecommuting seriously.
If the environment is a problem and if we are serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we will ban all but essential travel. We can start by emptying the downtowns of the world of white-collar commuters, workers who could be just as productive, perhaps even more productive, working from home.
This may seem like bad news for downtowns; however, Pink sees downtowns that are currently healthy, like those of most major Canadian cities, becoming centres of leisure, entertainment and art as people flock to condominiums and housing in the centre of cities.
E-mail, telephone, teleconferencing, videoconferencing and online collaboration tools are available right now to make it happen.
All we need is the will.
Here is an interesting article from Paul Lima at the CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/tech/hightech/telecommute.html
TelecommutingWorking from home: Is it for you?
Last Updated January 30, 2008
By Paul Lima
I am not an environmentalist. The family recycles and we have a composter, but I have an SUV. I bought it before Al Gore released An Inconvenient Truth and environmental concerns became in-your-face issues. Having said that, I suspect most car owners, and even people who take public transit, burn up more fossil fuel than I do.
I work from home as a freelance writer, and have done so for almost 17 years.
Every day, I wake up, grab a mug of tea and commute from my bedroom to my home office. I haven't met most of my editors or clients. I file my work by e-mail and we communicate by e-mail unless an issue seems complex, in which case I pick up the phone. Occasionally, I attend initial client meetings, but they are rare. While I'd love to attend a meeting with my client in Belgium, I don't think that will happen any time soon.
In addition to freelance writing, I teach continuing education business writing and copywriting courses for the University of Toronto. Until last year, that involved commuting downtown one night a week. Not any more. All the courses I teach are now online. That means students and the teacher are not driving or taking transit anywhere.
All that being said, I do not have the world's most sophisticated technological set up. I have a phone and a three-year-old computer with a broadband internet connection.
If I can use this technology to successfully work from home — with editors, clients and students across Canada, in the United States and in Europe — then why can't more people in corporations, organizations and government offices do likewise? Why do they have to clog our highways every morning and afternoon to commute to work?
A number of years ago, management consultant and university professor Peter Drucker wrote, "Why would any company pay in salary and time to transport a 190-pound body, when all it needed was the body's three pound brain?" Was he just ahead of his time?
If he was, he's gaining supporters for the idea. While Daniel Pink does not think the office cubicle will disappear, he says there will come a day when far fewer people commute to central locations.
"Collecting people in giant office towers does not make sense economically and environmentally," says Pink, a business consultant and author of A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age.
A few companies pay lip service to telecommuting and virtual businesses, and they maintain pockets of employees in different parts of the country, or world. But in the downtowns of major urban centres, construction crews are still building skyscrapers for white-collar workers, many of whom commute from outlying areas of cities. Even if they take public transit, they often have to drive to and from transit parking lots. Such is the idiocy of urban transportation.
Take, for example, Change is in the Air: Toronto's Commitment to an Environmentally Sustainable Future, the city of Toronto's framework to tackle climate change. It contains 27 proposed actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but pays next to no attention to reducing commuting.
In fact, it sees commuters as a revenue stream. The plan calls for annual parking or motor vehicle registration fees. And, of course, there is talk of road tolls. Instead of reducing, and where possible eliminating, the city's fleet of vehicles that run on diesel, the plan talks of converting them to biodiesel fuel. I suppose we can then wait several decades for scientists to figure out what environmental problems and cancers such fuels cause.
Sadly, in the information age, we are still thinking like an industrial economy where workers have to be in one place to turn out a product. Management is not able to let go of the notion that bodies gathered in one place equal productivity. That is no longer the case when it comes to most white-collar, knowledge-based and information processing work.
On-line collaboration applications can run on internal networks or be set up for access via the internet. They can be used to help teams or departments span distances common in today's far-flung, mobile workforce. Instead of relying on meetings, the telephone and e-mails to get things done, groups can meet in real time in a portal — an on-line web-based meeting room — and use text chat to discuss issues while sharing files or viewing presentations.
Web portals can also be used as a repository for all information pertaining to a project or department. Defined users can access the portal to discuss or review specific aspects of a project. Documents that reside in the portal can be locked while one person is updating them so that others will not end up working from old material, or members of a team can meet in the portal to collaborate on creating a new document or revising an old one.
In addition, companies can use web conferencing to conduct employee training, introduce clients to new products and offer customer support.
While e-mail and instant messaging (IM) are considered collaboration tools, online or web-based tools are an important part of this growing market. The value of the collaborative application market in Canada will reach almost $160 million this year, and grow to more than $180 million by 2010, according to a recent International Data Corporation (IDC) Canada report, Finding the collaborative opportunity in Canada.
Sounds impressive, but that is a drop in the bucket of what it could be if we took telecommuting seriously.
If the environment is a problem and if we are serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we will ban all but essential travel. We can start by emptying the downtowns of the world of white-collar commuters, workers who could be just as productive, perhaps even more productive, working from home.
This may seem like bad news for downtowns; however, Pink sees downtowns that are currently healthy, like those of most major Canadian cities, becoming centres of leisure, entertainment and art as people flock to condominiums and housing in the centre of cities.
E-mail, telephone, teleconferencing, videoconferencing and online collaboration tools are available right now to make it happen.
All we need is the will.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Maximizing People Talent
In any Corporate forum, People Talent falls in the top 10 topics of successful businesses. As we move into the information age, Intellectual property is key to securing and retaining customers and revenue. People become your competitive advantage.
The ability to bring in specialists from around the country or around the globe can bring credibility to your product/service.
Independent consultants are a good example of specialized individuals bringing their knowledge to companies on a project basis. Thus saving companies money by leveraging their specializations to move their business initiatives forward.
The best way to reap the benefits of your People Talent specialists is to get them in front of as many people as possible. This includes customers, prospects, leads, PR people, internal functional groups and others to increase your brand.
The ability to bring in specialists from around the country or around the globe can bring credibility to your product/service.
Independent consultants are a good example of specialized individuals bringing their knowledge to companies on a project basis. Thus saving companies money by leveraging their specializations to move their business initiatives forward.
The best way to reap the benefits of your People Talent specialists is to get them in front of as many people as possible. This includes customers, prospects, leads, PR people, internal functional groups and others to increase your brand.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Web Casting vs. Web Conferencing: Tips on how to choose
Web Casting vs. Web Conferencing
As your organization evaluates how it is going to communicate to employees, investors, customers and other audiences, there are a few ways to deliver your message.
With Web Casting (Also known as Streaming) and Web Conferencing, both offer an excellent forum for communicating, though there are some differences that can bring value to your specific event or meeting.
So when should you choose Web Casting and when should you choose Web Conferencing?
Web Casting
Web Casting is a Broadcast Tool. Web Casting takes compressed media and "Stream's" it over the internet and is available for review via a URL.
Here are some of the key highlights of Web Casting:
+ Audio, slides and video can be viewed easily via a URL
+ As a Broadcast medium, Participants can only interact with the Host via a chat feature or if a separate Audio path has been preestablished
+ Cost effective for over 100 participants, either simultaneouly or in total over the course of the campaign
+ Registration, Polling, Testing, and Feed Back fields can be added to gather key information
+ Web Casting offers superior reporting capabilities for pre and post event
As a communication medium, Web Casting is ideal for Press Releases, Investor Relations, Employee Addresses, Training and any large event.
Web Conferencing
Web Conferencing is truly a Collaboration tool. Web Conferencing is often used in conjunction with an audio conference for full integration between the host and the guests.
Here are some of the key features of Web Conferencing:
+Web Conferencing offers application sharing, white boarding and publishing of documents
+ Host controls can be passed so that documents and applications can be viewed, altered and shared dynamically in real time
+ Cost Effective for 1 to 100 concurrent participants
+ Polling and testing can be added as well as Video Images through the use of a Web Cam
+ Web Conferencing offers on demand presentation capabilities that can be launched anytime anywhere
Web Conferencing is ideal for customer presentations, internal company meetings, training, document reviews and for meetings under 100 participants.
Pricing can vary. Web Conferencing can be purchased as a per seat or room model or on a per minute basis. Web Casting is similar to a flat rate model.
Enjoy your day!
As your organization evaluates how it is going to communicate to employees, investors, customers and other audiences, there are a few ways to deliver your message.
With Web Casting (Also known as Streaming) and Web Conferencing, both offer an excellent forum for communicating, though there are some differences that can bring value to your specific event or meeting.
So when should you choose Web Casting and when should you choose Web Conferencing?
Web Casting
Web Casting is a Broadcast Tool. Web Casting takes compressed media and "Stream's" it over the internet and is available for review via a URL.
Here are some of the key highlights of Web Casting:
+ Audio, slides and video can be viewed easily via a URL
+ As a Broadcast medium, Participants can only interact with the Host via a chat feature or if a separate Audio path has been preestablished
+ Cost effective for over 100 participants, either simultaneouly or in total over the course of the campaign
+ Registration, Polling, Testing, and Feed Back fields can be added to gather key information
+ Web Casting offers superior reporting capabilities for pre and post event
As a communication medium, Web Casting is ideal for Press Releases, Investor Relations, Employee Addresses, Training and any large event.
Web Conferencing
Web Conferencing is truly a Collaboration tool. Web Conferencing is often used in conjunction with an audio conference for full integration between the host and the guests.
Here are some of the key features of Web Conferencing:
+Web Conferencing offers application sharing, white boarding and publishing of documents
+ Host controls can be passed so that documents and applications can be viewed, altered and shared dynamically in real time
+ Cost Effective for 1 to 100 concurrent participants
+ Polling and testing can be added as well as Video Images through the use of a Web Cam
+ Web Conferencing offers on demand presentation capabilities that can be launched anytime anywhere
Web Conferencing is ideal for customer presentations, internal company meetings, training, document reviews and for meetings under 100 participants.
Pricing can vary. Web Conferencing can be purchased as a per seat or room model or on a per minute basis. Web Casting is similar to a flat rate model.
Enjoy your day!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Conferencing & Collaboration Terminology
Below you will find Conferencing and Virtual Collaboration Terminology
Audio Conferencing (Also known as Teleconferencing)
Audio Conferencing or Teleconferencing: An Audio Connection involving three or more people in different locations using a phone or speaker phone.
Lecture Mode or Listen Only Mode: Lecture mode is when all participates lines are muted. Participants are able to listen but not able to speak into the Conference Call
Lock: Locking is a touch tone command that blocks others from joining the call including the operator. Locking a call ensures complete security
Chairperson/Host/Moderator: These terms can be used interchangeably to refer to the host or leader of the conference call
Bridge: The Teleconference "Bridge" is a telephony server that allows many participants to join into a phone conversation. The "Bridge" is physical hardware made up of a rack(s), line cards, power supplies etc that facilitates the Conference Service
Web Conferencing
Web Conference: Live and interactive sharing of presentations and software applications shared over the Internet
Publish: Through Web Conferencing, the Chairperson can publish a document (Usually Word, Excel or Power Point) from their computer to share with their participants. The documents are static and can not be altered or updated.
Application Sharing: Application sharing is when documents are shared in real time from your desk top. Since the software resides on the Chairpersons desktop, any software or desktop application can be shown. Only the Chairperson can alter or update Shared Applications on their own desktop.
White Boarding: Two or more users collaborate using drawing tools and writing ideas down in a virtual "white board" format
Video Conferencing
Video Conferencing: Live and Interactive video with audio used to connect two or more locations using Video Specific Hardware or Software Programs over the Internet, Private IP Network or ISDN Lines
Web Casting
Web Casting: Audio, Audio + Slides or Video available voer the Internet that is delivered either live or available in an archived link. Streaming is a highly efficient approach to reach a large number of people in a one to many presentation. Web Casting is not a collaborative tool but rather a broadcast tool
Streaming: Streaming is the delivery method of Web Casting. The Web Cast material is compressed, sent out in a continuous stream over the Internet and is decompressed as the user receives it
Audio Web Casting: A live or Archived Audio conversation that is digitized, compressed and available to listen to on a Computer or Internet enabled PDA Device
Audio + Slides Web Cast: A Slide Presentation that is narrated by audio that is digitixzed and compressed to be viewed on a Computer or Internet ready PDA Device
Video Web Cast: Using Video Conferencing Equipment, A Web Cam or Studio Camera Equipment, a presentation or speech can be delivered via the Internet for guests to view either live or in an archived format
If you have any questions or comments in regards to these terminologies, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@reciteconferencing.com
Happy New Year!
Audio Conferencing (Also known as Teleconferencing)
Audio Conferencing or Teleconferencing: An Audio Connection involving three or more people in different locations using a phone or speaker phone.
Lecture Mode or Listen Only Mode: Lecture mode is when all participates lines are muted. Participants are able to listen but not able to speak into the Conference Call
Lock: Locking is a touch tone command that blocks others from joining the call including the operator. Locking a call ensures complete security
Chairperson/Host/Moderator: These terms can be used interchangeably to refer to the host or leader of the conference call
Bridge: The Teleconference "Bridge" is a telephony server that allows many participants to join into a phone conversation. The "Bridge" is physical hardware made up of a rack(s), line cards, power supplies etc that facilitates the Conference Service
Web Conferencing
Web Conference: Live and interactive sharing of presentations and software applications shared over the Internet
Publish: Through Web Conferencing, the Chairperson can publish a document (Usually Word, Excel or Power Point) from their computer to share with their participants. The documents are static and can not be altered or updated.
Application Sharing: Application sharing is when documents are shared in real time from your desk top. Since the software resides on the Chairpersons desktop, any software or desktop application can be shown. Only the Chairperson can alter or update Shared Applications on their own desktop.
White Boarding: Two or more users collaborate using drawing tools and writing ideas down in a virtual "white board" format
Video Conferencing
Video Conferencing: Live and Interactive video with audio used to connect two or more locations using Video Specific Hardware or Software Programs over the Internet, Private IP Network or ISDN Lines
Web Casting
Web Casting: Audio, Audio + Slides or Video available voer the Internet that is delivered either live or available in an archived link. Streaming is a highly efficient approach to reach a large number of people in a one to many presentation. Web Casting is not a collaborative tool but rather a broadcast tool
Streaming: Streaming is the delivery method of Web Casting. The Web Cast material is compressed, sent out in a continuous stream over the Internet and is decompressed as the user receives it
Audio Web Casting: A live or Archived Audio conversation that is digitized, compressed and available to listen to on a Computer or Internet enabled PDA Device
Audio + Slides Web Cast: A Slide Presentation that is narrated by audio that is digitixzed and compressed to be viewed on a Computer or Internet ready PDA Device
Video Web Cast: Using Video Conferencing Equipment, A Web Cam or Studio Camera Equipment, a presentation or speech can be delivered via the Internet for guests to view either live or in an archived format
If you have any questions or comments in regards to these terminologies, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@reciteconferencing.com
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Teleconferencing Ettiquette
Teleconferencing Conferencing Etiquette
Just like etiquette at a dinner table or on a golf course, etiquette is important to ensuring that all participants are comfortable with their situation and that their attention is directed to what is important.
Teleconferencing has some business etiquette that can be applied to ensure that your guests have the best possible experience.
1) Be On Time: Chairpersons, Hosts and/or Moderators should arrive a few minutes early to greet each of the participants, and let them know when everyone is present and ready to start the call.
2) Mute: All participants should mute their line if they are not speaking. This reduces background noise and improves the audio quality of the call.
3) Introductions: Always introduce yourself when speaking for the first time
It is important to introduce yourself when first speaking as other participants may not recognize your voice.
4) No HOLD: Avoid putting your phone on HOLD. Putting your phone on hold could play music into the conference which may make it difficult for the other participants to continue the meeting in your absence! Use the MUTE as an alternative.
5) Agenda: All well run meetings have an agenda that focus the participants on the items of top priority. Create an agenda and keep to your schedule and respect the time boundaries of your participants.
6) End the Call: Clearly state when call ends. To avoid an awkward ending to a call, announce that the meeting has adjourned and thank everyone for their time. If you press # #, you can disconnect all of the callers.
Other tips:
Background noise: If you have a noisy participant (coughing, typing, finger tapping, pen clicking) you can mute all the lines using the *5 feature - mute all. Then anyone wanting to speak can press *6 to unmute their own line. If muting everyone is not an option, then gently remind participants to be mindful of creating background noise.
Late Arrivals: If you have a late arrival but want to get started, press *4 and record the call. When they do join, you can let them know that the portion of the meeting they missed can be played back after the call so you don't have to have everyone wait while you bring them up to speed.
We hope this was helpful! If you have any Teleconferencing Etiquette suggestions, please share!
From the team at Recite Conferencing
Just like etiquette at a dinner table or on a golf course, etiquette is important to ensuring that all participants are comfortable with their situation and that their attention is directed to what is important.
Teleconferencing has some business etiquette that can be applied to ensure that your guests have the best possible experience.
1) Be On Time: Chairpersons, Hosts and/or Moderators should arrive a few minutes early to greet each of the participants, and let them know when everyone is present and ready to start the call.
2) Mute: All participants should mute their line if they are not speaking. This reduces background noise and improves the audio quality of the call.
3) Introductions: Always introduce yourself when speaking for the first time
It is important to introduce yourself when first speaking as other participants may not recognize your voice.
4) No HOLD: Avoid putting your phone on HOLD. Putting your phone on hold could play music into the conference which may make it difficult for the other participants to continue the meeting in your absence! Use the MUTE as an alternative.
5) Agenda: All well run meetings have an agenda that focus the participants on the items of top priority. Create an agenda and keep to your schedule and respect the time boundaries of your participants.
6) End the Call: Clearly state when call ends. To avoid an awkward ending to a call, announce that the meeting has adjourned and thank everyone for their time. If you press # #, you can disconnect all of the callers.
Other tips:
Background noise: If you have a noisy participant (coughing, typing, finger tapping, pen clicking) you can mute all the lines using the *5 feature - mute all. Then anyone wanting to speak can press *6 to unmute their own line. If muting everyone is not an option, then gently remind participants to be mindful of creating background noise.
Late Arrivals: If you have a late arrival but want to get started, press *4 and record the call. When they do join, you can let them know that the portion of the meeting they missed can be played back after the call so you don't have to have everyone wait while you bring them up to speed.
We hope this was helpful! If you have any Teleconferencing Etiquette suggestions, please share!
From the team at Recite Conferencing
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