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Why Teleconferences Suck?

You are organizing a teleconference, and surprisingly it doesn’t start on time, people cannot dial in, they don’t distinguish “leader code” from “participant code”, a few people know the objectives, and certainly no one knows who is really on the line
 
Sounds familiar? 
 
If not, just look at the movie below showing how, in most cases, teleconferences look like, and what happens  from different points of view…
 
In teleconferences, just like in regular meetings there are rules, which can save both time and effort if you stick to them:
 
  • Rule # 1 – “No agenda – no teleconference” – if you are an organizer of teleconference communicate key objectives and expectations to the participants before the virtual  meeting . If you are participant and you don’t see  clear agenda – just don’t be shy to ask what is the point of doing it.
  • Rule #2 – “There is a difference between a leader and participant” – every time you join a teleconference you wonder who is on the line and whether you should or should not introduce yourself  if the conference has already started. So let’s make it clear: always introduce yourself when you join the call, and if you are leader (formal role of person appointing the teleconference and sending the agenda), just tell the person who just has joined who is in the room. Do it every time someone new joins. It’s such a huge time saver compared to having n-people say “hi” one after another and introduce themselves to the person who’s just joined.
  • Rule#3 – “No minutes – no teleconference“- just imagine somebody could not make it and didn’t join the teleconference you have splendidly planned. So what you are going to do to avoid numerous calls on what have happened during the teleconference in case it was missed by more than couple of participants? Just prepare a short summary with key things discussed, agreed upon , and next steps planned . Send it to all teleconference participants the same day the teleconference took place together with thank-you-note for participation, engagement and contribution of those who joined in.
 
What are your tips for making time at work efficient and meaningful?
 
 

 

                                                             Source: www.youtube.com

 

 
Dzida!


Do you Hate Making Decisions and Wanna Feel Important ? Hold a Meeting!

No matter how developed your business undertaking or ongoing work engagements are, you probably attend or organize some meetings.

Here are tips of Philips Damiano, on how to make the business meetings “no souls-sucking” with some personal comments in italics:

1. Be timely – and don’t get too excited about the time you want to hold your invitees on your meeting – Damiano proposes max. 45 min. meetings, whereas some cutting edge companies organize it by principle in even shorter time-blocks, with no seats but at coctail tables in weel air conditioned rooms, so noone looses attention needed,

2. Have agenda that makes sense – or have an agenda at all and present it before the meeting start, you know what they say – no agenda = no meeting (in terms of contribution of participants you expect),

3. Be selective on who attends the meeting – and remember on preparation the after meeting minutes (most important conclusions and “to do’s” to circulate it afterwards and have tangible result out of the meeting),

4. Determine if you really need the meeting – one of my favourite corporate mems is this, which says “Are you lonely? Tired of working on your own? Do you hate making decisions ? Hold a meeting ! You can: see people, show charts, feel important, point with a stick, eat dounats, impress your colleagues – all on company time ! Meetings – the practical alternative to work.” – Meetings do really cost time, which can be wisely invested in business development, deals nurturing and sales closing – so think well before you decide to organize one 😉

Read the full article here.

Dzida !