business meetings

All posts tagged business meetings

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Should you hold conference calls or a video calls?

A lot of us often wonder about whether to choose conference calls or video calls. There are big benefits on both sides, and some shared across the two. After all, there’s no doubt that advancements in call technology have paved the way for new communication methods at work. They allow us to host keynote presentations from across the world, offering inclusivity to those with accessibility needs. Any type of group phone call also provides a sense of connection when teammates are working apart – something particularly valuable through COVID-related lockdowns and social distancing.

But while jumping on a video call has become a knee-jerk reaction for many, it’s not without its drawbacks. Video brings some complications that traditional conference calls simply don’t have. If you’re wondering whether to organise a conference call or video call, don’t forget that sometimes just picking up the phone is the better option.

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AdminShould you hold conference calls or a video calls?
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How to encourage conference call participation

With telecommuting become part and parcel of daily life, the need to encourage conference call participation is on all our radars. Whether you are a developer, manager, director or client, you will probably understand the challenges that conference call participation can pose. Meeting dynamics often solidify rather quickly, as extraverted participants take centre stage and readily express their opinions. Bolder characters may be excellent for producing new ideas. Unfortunately, though, it can cause participants who are more reserved to fade into the background. If you want to enhance your team’s productivity and unity, implementing some of the following solutions can work wonders. After all, we all want to learn how to have more effective conference calls.

Both the call’s leader and its participants can make a huge difference in encouraging conference call participation. Read on to discover some tips and tactics to improve your team’s conference call participation.

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AdminHow to encourage conference call participation
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How to improve unspoken communication on a conference call

Verbal signals are an important part of all communication. But conference call communication depends on verbal and non-verbal signalling. In the age of teleconferencing (and seemingly its glory year!), they’re vital signs into how successful an interaction is. You may be pitching to a prospective client, it may be your weekly team catch up, or you may be a director presenting to an entire department. No matter the purpose of the call, if you are trying to deliver an engaging conference call, getting clued up on non-verbal and verbal signals is crucial. They can indicate that somebody is losing interest. Picking up on these feelings gives you the chance to try and improve things.

Read through our guide about some of the ways to improve communication on a conference call, by reading signals that call participants aren’t invested. We’ll also advise on what to do to turn things around.

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AdminHow to improve unspoken communication on a conference call
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10 ways to be more effective on conference calls

Since last year, people are increasingly keen to learn how to hold effective conference calls. For those who lead team meetings, reflection is commonplace when it comes to making sure the valuable time spent together is as productive as possible. You might try different meeting structures or various frequencies of conference calls – you may even ask yourself ‘are conference calls effective at all?’. Balancing productivity with team engagement is the real challenge for meeting leaders. To find out how to achieve effective conference calls, read on to discover our top ten tips.

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Admin10 ways to be more effective on conference calls
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Has 2020 built more trust among teams?

One of the big debates of 2020 was whether we should trust employees who work from home. We all had to adjust to new ways of living in 2020, especially those of us who switched to remote work. Our old routines have given way to new ones. We’ve forged new means of communication that, even post-pandemic, we’ll still use. 

Thinking about traditional modes of working, perhaps the single biggest change is in the dynamic between colleagues. More specifically: how is your team dynamic affected when the members of that team are working remotely? A Forbes article published on 27th May goes some way in arguing that employers don’t trust people to work from home.

What does this mean for the future? Is there a fundamental distrust at the heart of WFH culture? Or has 2020 built more trust among teams and between the business owner and employee? 

Read our article to find out…

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AdminHas 2020 built more trust among teams?
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Is remote working the future? These businesses are making the switch

In late March, when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the UK, many businesses had to adapt to a remote working environment. From creative agencies to corporate lawyers, working from home soon became the norm.

Remote working certainly isn’t for everyone, and some businesses have embraced the change more than others. However, in a world of time-consuming commutes and expensive office spaces, this new way of working has been a breath of fresh air for some businesses.

As a result, these firms have recently switched to remote working permanently – here’s why.

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AdminIs remote working the future? These businesses are making the switch
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The ultimate guide to effective note-taking on a conference call

Conference calls are an excellent way to work and collaborate with others remotely, whether you are two businesses collaborating on opposite sides of the world or one fully remote team looking to stay connected. There’s no doubt conference calls are a must-have tool for many businesses today, but the key to any great conference call is effective note-taking.

Learn how to take notes during a phone call (or a video conference) with our guide.

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AdminThe ultimate guide to effective note-taking on a conference call
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10 ways to avoid working from home distractions

Many people are currently combating working from home distractions. Of course, working from home can be a godsend for parents looking to spend more time with the family, those with extremely long commutes or even people who simply work better in their own space. Gone are the times when people believed it essential to be in an office setting to get work done. 

However, worker productivity when at home is still under scrutiny, and not all employers are convinced that it’s a positive thing. One contributing factor may be those pesky working from home distractions which affect the best of us. Instead of pushing through in a chaotic work environment, read on to learn a few tips and tricks on how to create a feng shui zone for your distraction-free home office.

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Admin10 ways to avoid working from home distractions
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Teleconferences cut traffic: Could we have avoided one of the worst nights on Manchester’s roads?

Reducing traffic is on most people’s agenda. Teleconferences cut traffic, so anyone who’s in favour of fewer cars on the roads should consider using them more. For some it’s about the impact of air pollution on health. There’s also the pressing concern of greenhouse gases accelerating climate change. With Extinction Rebellion hosting demonstrations, celebrities and royals lambasted for flying, and Greta Thunberg sailing across the Atlantic, we all know reducing transport – particularly in private vehicles – is a good idea. Many of us would also simply enjoy a shorter commute, or not planning our day around avoiding rush hour.

Last Wednesday 29th January has been described as one of the busiest nights of the year around Manchester, and people were advised to leave their cars at home. This might seem a little surprising. Not the Christmas rush? Not the day we all return to work and school, bleary of eye and slow of reaction, clogging up the roads as we crawl somewhat unwillingly back after those wonderful weeks off?

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AdminTeleconferences cut traffic: Could we have avoided one of the worst nights on Manchester’s roads?
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Setting up a conference call in Outlook: It’s easier than you think!

Setting up a conference call in Outlook is a great skill to have. It can save you valuable time, and can help ensure neither you nor your attendees ever miss a teleconference. And don’t worry, you’re in luck. It’s so easy, even the word ‘skill’ might be a stretch. If you frequently use Outlook in your professional life, read on to find out how you can integrate your routine conference calls into your Outlook usage. You’ll be setting up a conference call in Outlook before you know it!

Before setting up a conference call in Outlook, set up a WHYPAY? account

If you’re already a WHYPAY? user, you can, of course, skip this step. But for those who might not yet have discovered how much free conference calls can benefit your business, you’ll need a few seconds to create your free WHYPAY? account. And yes, we really do mean seconds.

To get started, you can simply visit the WHYPAY? homepage and hit ‘Create a FREE Conference’. Or, even easier, click the button below.

Create a FREE Teleconference Read more »
AdminSetting up a conference call in Outlook: It’s easier than you think!