Easing the squeeze with web commuting
When and When Not To Guide for Online Meetings
Many businesses are discovering the value of online meetings as a powerful communication tool to increase productivity and decrease the cost of everyday business travel. Online meetings are especially useful for sales presentations, marketing events and training sessions. However, the experience can fall short of a conventional meeting if workers are not savvy about when and when not to use online meetings.
Online meetings work best as a follow-up meeting after you have already established rapport with a colleague or built a relationship with a customer. Initial sales meetings with new customers are best to be conducted in-person to utilise non-verbal communication such as body language.
This guide is designed to help you discern when to use the power of online meetings to improve your business communications and eliminate travel.
When To
- When you can’t meet in-person and a phone call isn’t enough
- When you want to have richer conversations
- When collaboration is necessary
- When you need to bring together a dispersed group
- When time is of the essence
- When security is a concern
When Not To
- When meeting someone for the first time
- When your meeting is particularly emotional or sensitive
- When visual communications is not necessary (you may only need to utilise the audio capabilities of the technology)
- When communicating with people in the same office, face-to-face communications are often more productive
Web commuting offers small business a viable alternative to everyday business travel, but it is important to note that managers and employees must adopt certain characteristics for a successful experience.
For example, communication is extremely critical when managing web commuters. Managers should leverage a combination of online meetings, face-to-face meetings and chat sessions to stay connected. They must also establish clear and measurable goals for their employees.
Web commuters need to be technology-aware and familiar with company policies that regulate flexible working practices. They must use technology to communicate frequently and openly with their managers to ensure transparency and visibility into their activities. Web commuting technologies foster a level of openess that enables both remote managers and employees to flexibly work in a trusted environment.
Is your business feeling the petrol price crunch? Perhaps it’s time to rethink your next business trip and consider whether web commuting is right for you.
-H.R. Shiever is managing director, Citrix Online Asia Pacific (www.citrix.com.au)