If you’ve ever been on a conference call, you’ve sometimes wondered how effective they really are. You can’t see the expressions of those on the call with you, meaning you’ve lost more than half of your ability to read whether they’re interested or tuning out. Heck, according to a recent survey, a lot of them might actually be in the bathroom!
According to the Wall Street Journal, more than half of employees on conference calls have said they have done other work while being on the line. Whether it’s sending emails, eating/making food, or checking social media, the distractions are vast when you’re trying to get everyone on the same page during a virtual meeting on an important project.
If your employees aren’t paying attention, why waste your time?
The answer is that things needs to get coordinated across teams, departments, and geographies. But why not do so in a way that’s more effective?
To this end, I recommend two possibilities: Trello and Asana. Both of these project-based websites allow you to plan and execute projects in an asynchronous fashion. Instead of clearing everyone’s calendars for conference calls that seem to be ineffective, have everyone check in when they’re free and keep the team up to date.
It’s not easy to adopt new software when the old plan feels like it’s working - but that thinking is costing you money. Making the correct choice for how to coordinate your organization means higher profits.
Sources
According to the Wall Street Journal, more than half of employees on conference calls have said they have done other work while being on the line. Whether it’s sending emails, eating/making food, or checking social media, the distractions are vast when you’re trying to get everyone on the same page during a virtual meeting on an important project.
If your employees aren’t paying attention, why waste your time?
The answer is that things needs to get coordinated across teams, departments, and geographies. But why not do so in a way that’s more effective?
To this end, I recommend two possibilities: Trello and Asana. Both of these project-based websites allow you to plan and execute projects in an asynchronous fashion. Instead of clearing everyone’s calendars for conference calls that seem to be ineffective, have everyone check in when they’re free and keep the team up to date.
It’s not easy to adopt new software when the old plan feels like it’s working - but that thinking is costing you money. Making the correct choice for how to coordinate your organization means higher profits.
Sources
- Auriemma, Adam. "What Really Happens During Conference Calls." At Work Blog. Wall Street Journal, 20 Aug. 2014. Web. 21 Aug. 2014. <http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/08/20/what-really-happens-during-conference-calls/>.
- "Asana · Teamwork without Email." Asana. Web. 21 Aug. 2014. <http://www.asana.com>.
- "How Much of Communication Is Really Nonverbal?" Nonverbal. The Nonverbal Group. Web. 21 Aug. 2014. <http://www.nonverbalgroup.com/2011/08/how-much-of-communication-is-really-nonverbal/>.
- Trello. Trello, Inc. Web. 21 Aug. 2014. <http://www.trello.com>.