I attend online meetings a lot. And it's not just because my company makes GoToMeeting. Rather, it's because we've adopted a workshifting culture where colleagues are often working at disparate locations, either at home, at a different company office or on the road (for conferences, vacations, etc.).

We've also adopted the Agile project management methodology, which calls for frequent planning and status meetings.

Add to that the fact that my job is often collaborative, as I work with marketing managers, designers, web developers and other editors, and I end up with a truckload of online meetings in my calendar. I have so many that I'd call myself an online meeting power user.

Are you a power user as well? Take a look at the checklist below to see how you compare.

You might be an online meeting power user if:

• You host or attend 10 or more online meetings per week.
  
  
• You can start a meeting and eat a sandwich at the same time.
  
  
• You're super fast with the mute button - either to mute yourself while you finish your sandwich or to silence the guy typing on a snare drum.
  
  
• You meet with people in so many time zones that you open each meeting with "Good morning, good afternoon and good evening!"
  
  
• You keep your headset on all day, just in case you need to join a meeting and use VoIP.
  
  
• You host your meetings online even when attendees are in the same room with you.

If you're an online meeting power user like me, I salute you.

I think it's not only neat you use the latest workshifting technology and have a collaborative job like I do but also progressive because I believe we power users are doing good in the world. We're getting the job done; we're balancing work with sandwiches life; AND we're helping to protect the environment by meeting online instead of burning fossil fuels to travel.

Consider yourself invited to the online meeting power user club. Feel free to share your online meeting power tips and tricks with the rest of us in the comments below.

Photo Credit: adedip

A recent survey of business leaders indicates that, over the next five years, there will be significant increases in flexible work arrangements. The primary drivers for workshifting will be the need to attract and retain rockstar talent.

The survey, titled "Flexible Work: Perceptions and Realities" was sponsored by FlexPaths, a global leader in flexible working solutions, and LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network. Survey participants included CEOs, human resources leaders and workspace decision makers.

The summary report, which you can download here, explored many of the key concepts we are still struggling with when it comes to telework: how to define it, managing employees, and understanding the measurable benefits.

What was refreshing to read is the acknowledgement that telework has become important to the competitive business landscape. For many years, telework has been known as a nice-to-have perk. Now it is being seen as a must have in the workplace for several reasons:

• The ability to attract and retain talent
• Reduction in office space and carbon footprint
• Reducing payroll without eliminating jobs

The report identifies several challenges to implementing a flexible work environment. The most common being the challenges of managing a virtual workforce. This will involve the development of new management skills, training of these new skills and major changes in business philosophy. Telework is not about "doing time at work" - it's about getting results. And holding people accountable for delivering those results.

In addition, employees will have to be equipped for the change of working outside of the traditional office environment. It's not just getting computer equipment. Let me tell you that working from home is very different than working in a cubicle. And trying to get work done at the airport or your local coffee shop can be even more of a challenge.

It's very encouraging to see more reports like this one and the real dialogue about workshifting begin. According to this report, 4 out of 5 people will be in some kind of flexible work arrangement by 2016. The conversation can't start a moment too soon. As our economy is talking about job creation, it only makes sense to include some discussion about the need to create flexible jobs and effectively building a support system for those flexible jobs.

What do you think? Will businesses increase opportunities for flexible work? Are we seeing the "tipping point" for workshifting?

Photo Credit: imsickofmaps

So, about a week ago, I was 5 minutes from producing a premium Webinar, which we do many of at my company.  And the thought occurred to me ... Here I am, based in New York City but working in Stratford-upon-Avon at the moment, about to produce a premium (meaning "not free") webinar where over 50 organizations will be participating, representing 5 different countries on two continents.





My immediate thought, "How the hell did my little company become an international business?".  We drive over 50% of our revenue from International relationships.  The answer of course lies in the times we live.  There are SO much incredible software available, like GoToWebinar, that allow small business to act like big business.  

Tools like this have democratized the playing field. They empower those with ambition and ingenuity to economically maintain even international relationships that drive revenue and awareness.  If you are a small business and do any sort of teaching/training, I strongly suggest you check out GoToWebinar.

What do you think? Do you have any Webinar hosting experiences?


Disclosure:  I have had a sponsored GoToWebinar account for a few months now.  Also, from time to time, my company does some interesting projects with Citrix Online ... mainly because we think they kick ass ;)

The Three Rules to Command Attention and Change Minds

Today's post is from Tim Wackel, one of today's most popular business speakers who has mastered the ability to make information entertaining, memorable and easy to understand. He combines more than 20 years of successful sales leadership with specific client research to deliver high-impact programs that go beyond today's best practices.

Imagine you've been working on a significant opportunity for several months. You've invested long hours with all of the key players and it's almost time to go to contract. The final step is a simple "show-n-tell" online presentation that you need to deliver to the executive committee. All you need is their nod and you're off to the bank to deposit the commission check.

The day of the big pitch arrives and you're feeling good. You start confidently, connect to your online meeting and launch the presentation. Suddenly all eyes are on screen and without warning you find yourself stumbling through a lame introduction that goes something like: "Hi, my name is Bob and I work for XYZ Company. Thanks for taking some time to meet today."

You race through the deck until you get to the meat of the presentation (easily identified by the slides that have lots of words typed in small fonts). Finally you begin to feel strangely comfortable as you start reading these complex screen shots to the decision makers.

And then, without warning you find yourself staring at a blank slide. There is nothing left in the deck so you immediately ask for questions and of course there aren't any. You awkwardly thank everyone for their time and end the meeting. Now you're left with no clue if you'll win this opportunity but you're certain that you won't get a second chance.

Sound powerful? Probably not, but I'll bet it sounds familiar.

So what does it take to keep the Board Room from becoming a Bored Room? Here are three quick tips to get you back on track now.

#1. Get a hook!
Most audiences rush to conclusions in the first two minutes of your presentation. Failure to develop a solid introduction is one of the biggest mistakes sales professionals make. Leverage those first two minutes to take command of your listeners. Engage them with a relevant story. Grab their attention with an alarming insight. Or just make them smile with some simple humor. Worry less about educating (do you like to be educated?) and worry more about entertaining (everyone likes to be entertained).

I'm not suggesting you start your next presentation with a card trick (although that could be a great hook). But I am suggesting you take a hard look at how you get your audience to lean in for the first two minutes of your next presentation.

Script, practice and polish your hook until it is rock solid. And for additional assurance, keep your script handy as you present during your online meeting. Grabbing their attention from the very start sets you and your ideas apart from everyone else who just "wings" their opening. And a great hook creates confidence that you can build upon throughout your presentation.

#2. Stop death by PowerPoint
PowerPoint was originally developed to be a visual aid--a tool that presenters could use to add "power" to their message by highlighting a key "point." Think big fonts, few words, maybe even a picture or two to drive home important ideas.

PowerPoint was not designed to be a proposal tool or a script. Save the Gantt charts for the appendix... PLEASE!

PowerPoint decks aren't the presentation, you are the presentation. The deck is there to support you and your ideas.

Look at it another way. PowerPoint decks that are jammed full of data, charts, conclusions and complete paragraphs could just be emailed to the customer. What do they need you for? The customer can read it themselves and it saves you from having to make a sales call. What an interesting way to decrease business and work yourself out of a job.

#3. Eliminate inspirational deficit
Most of the sales presentations I get to watch (and I get to watch hundreds every year) close with the presenter saying "thank you."  Not exactly a strong call to action, is it?

You deliver presentations because you want someone to do something. You might want their approval or an introduction or maybe you want their feedback on an idea. The bottom line is you want something from your listener and the best way to get it is to ask for it!

I know you won't always get what you want, but if you'll ask for something specific it becomes a springboard for questions, discussion and next steps. You conclude the meeting knowing where you stand versus hoping that your phone will ring.

Want to learn how to avoid the biggest presentation mistakes that business professionals make? Watch this on-demand Webinar, "Anatomy of a Lousy Pitch: The 6 Worst Presentation Habits and How to Avoid Them." Additionally, visit www.timwackel.com for more tips. How can you afford not to make this investment in yourself?

It takes courage to admit you could be a better presenter and confidence to believe you can change. It takes nothing to create excuses.

What do you think?


Photo Credit: James Jordan

This blog was designed to serve the Workshifting community with relevant information contributed by the community, and when appropriate mention our services.  However, every now and again a really interesting and useful fact lands on my desk that I feel compelled to share.

The graph represents Citrix Online's internal use of GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar compared to our Average Travel Spend per Head Count.  The reduction in our Average Travel Spend is significant as our use of online meeting tools has increased (special thanks to Scott Allen).

I thought it would be useful to pull back the kimono and show internal data that demonstrates the value of online meeting tools.  I feel like I should add the disclaimer, "...individual results may vary".  However, I don't believe that to be true.  There are many choices as it pertains to Workshifting tools, and plenty is being written about adoption.  Once put into practice, whatever your tool of choice, the impact can be significant.

However, ROI for online meeting services is not always measured by a reduction in travel expenses.  In many cases your travel may increase because your use of the tools has allowed you to interact with an even greater number of clients and potential clients.  If you're that person, ROI could be measured in terms of an increase in Leads, Gross Revenue or Bookings.  For many others, ROI is defined by Productivity and Family Time.

The point is not to pigeonhole yourself into one or the other.  Select the tools that best serve your needs and the needs of your team.  It's your adoption of the tools into your life that makes them effective, not vice versa.  

How do you measure the effectiveness of your Workshifting tools?

Imagine switching on your HDTV eager to watch a show at 9. There you are, popcorn in hand, only to find a blank screen. Then a voice comes on and says they're waiting for a few more people to tune in, "please stand by." Meanwhile, they offer a static page with the name of the program and a tacky graphic. A few minutes later the voice is back saying they're going to get started, but since folks are still tuning in, they'll wait a few more minutes before diving into the actual program. More static screens pop up, this time asking you to answer a few questions using your remote control. Four questions later, it's quarter past the hour, and you're starting to wonder why you tuned in in the first place.

Does this sound familiar? If you've logged on to any webinars recently, it probably does. In fact, the scenario I described in the last paragraph, sans popcorn, was from a webinar about doing great webinars. Over the next 45 minutes, more slides trickled by; none were in any way engaging. In between slides, the screen went blank. The voice, full of false enthusiasm, chattered on about the need for great content, an engaging personality, etc. To be honest, he sounded more like one of those slick morning radio personalities--the same sing-song style--the same Red Bull-induced zeal. Fortunately, the audio dropped out twice, so that limited the exposure.

To be fair, I'd tuned into this particular webinar because I'd just done one myself and frankly, was embarrassed by the performance. Lot's of technology glitches, awkward hand-offs between speakers, horrible audio, etc. It's not like I hadn't prepared. I probably spent 5 days preparing for it. It's not like we were using some unproven technology, I don't want to name names, but it was one of the big ones. It's not like I'd never done one before, I had. And it's not like I'm an inexperienced speaker, I've done hundreds of lectures and speeches.

"The least they'll accept is the best they've ever seen," my husband used to say in speeches about the future of technology. Largely, that's been true. Once you've played World of Warcraft, you're not going back to Donkey Kong. Once you've watched HD, you're not going to settle for less. So what's with webinars?

While I've seen dozens of inspirational or motivational speeches, I can honestly say I've never attended a webinar that was anything better than ho-hum. Heck, I'd even settle for one that made me feel like it was time well spent.

I've pondered the problem some and while I've come to no real conclusions, here are my thoughts:

• In spite of the big names in the business, the technology side of webinar delivery is clumsy at best. Uploading programs is pretty simple on most platforms, but voice inputs are clunky. Even prior testing doesn't ensure the sound will be good. Some platforms don't even give you the ability to talk to co-presenters "off camera," before the program starts. If you're in the habit of tuning into a webinar early, or staying late, you've no doubt heard speakers who didn't realize or have forgotten this. Oopsie.
  
  
• With all of the unknowns, why aren't more people pre-recording webinars to get them just right, and answering questions live?
  
  
• The voice and methods you use as a speaker, doesn't work on a webinar. Pregnant pauses that create anticipation at live events, are dead air when the audience can't see you. My reaction to the "radio voice" of the speaker I mentioned earlier notwithstanding, I wonder if some radio training would help webinar speakers. After all, engaging the unseen listener is what they do--some more effectively than others.
  
  
• Those of us who are used to public speaking, find it hard to be 'on' without the enthusiasm of a crowd. It's like practicing a speech--very uncomfortable and stilted. How do you replicate the roar of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd?
  
  
• Knowing your subject is only part of the battle. You also have to understand pacing, know how to engage, understand the technology, and if you're going to use them, know how to design interesting polls. Most importantly, you need to be able to create engaging graphics; ones that complement what you have to say without confusing or boring the audience.
  
  
• Most people, myself included, multi-task while listening to a webinar. Imagine giving a speech where the whole audience is surfing the web on their laptops or talking on their phones. I think part of the reason for this is that the webinars aren't engaging enough, but it may just be a function of a multitasking culture. Recognizing this, how do you deliver content that's easy to follow while they're doing other things?
  
  
• Part of the problem is obviously bandwidth. Once that increases, we'll no doubt see better production, but that's going to place an even greater emphasis on the artistic side of things. How will mere mortals cope?
  

Is it just me? Are there any ideas out there for how to give great webinars? Dare I ask, has anyone seen a really good one?

Photo by: Zelda Go Wild

Today Roger Courville stops by to share the number two mistake made in online presentations. Roger spends his days consulting and training corporations on how to properly design and optimize webinars.  You can connect with Roger over on Twitter and say hi.

Imagine for a moment that you were sitting down over coffee with a potential partner, and after some get-to-know-you chit chat you say, "so, tell me about your firm?"

On that prompt, your coffee partner pulls out a data sheet and starts reading it to you.

"What?!!?," you start thinking.  But it continues.  

A half-hour later, when your heart is about as cold as your coffee, he looks up and says, "So, any questions?"

While a bit dramatic, this is essentially what happens every day in online presentations.  Web seminars.  Webinars.

In a recent study I conducted about online presentation best practices, in one section of the survey I presented respondents with a question asking them what annoys them most about online presentations with seven potential responses.

Their top two responses made it look like the other five weren't even on the list:

"Presenter reads what is on the slides" and "Presenter reads a script."

So why is this the number two mistake in online presentations?

I've incorporated this research into my public and private webinar skills training.  In one session to a European audience, Alice (her real name) submitted a comment noting, "But I present to audiences for whom English is a second language and they like it when I read the slides to them.  It helps their comprehension."

My response,  "Good job, Alice!  You're obviously not making mistake number one - know thy audience."

An old adage on the sales floor is "people by from people."  But that isn't just a sales tactic.  People aren't going to pay attention, engage, or trust your ideas if you speak at them.

And their message for webinar presenters is clear:

TALK with me.  Talk WITH me.  Talk with ME.

Photo by: James Jordan