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Would you be better suited to working remotely?

Admin 30th November 2017

Over four million people in the U.K. are estimated to work solely from home. This increase is due to the way we work evolving, meaning going into an office every day isn’t necessarily beneficial for every job role.

Though it may appear that it’s mainly the employees who are better off for working remotely, employers also benefit massively as they require less office space and can therefore cut costs of rent significantly. Advancing technology means it is extremely easy for workers to contact the office from wherever they may be, thus driving the rising number of people working from home.

Higher productivity rates than office workers

While office workers are required to adhere to certain rules and regulations, such as remaining at their own desks, remote workers can sit where they like. In a sense this can allow for greater levels of creativity from those who work remotely. Working from home adds a new dimension of comfort that cannot be achieved within an office environment. If you get tired of sitting at your dining table while you work, you can move through to the lounge and curl up on the sofa with a cup of tea and your laptop. A survey carried out by Canada Life found that homeworkers actually ranked their productivity as 7.7/10 in contrast to office workers who only scored 6.5/10.

Wi-Fi is readily available

While ten years ago it may have been hard to come across a Wi-Fi connection that wasn’t painfully slow at best, decent free Wi-Fi is now readily available in most coffee shops and libraries. In addition, while household internet access was merely 57% in the U.K., it has drastically increased and currently stands at 89%. This means that the vast majority of us would be able to use our Wi-Fi at home to get our work done. For the few that don’t, using your mobile device as a personal hotspot could also be an option, 70% of adults in the U.K. accessing internet ‘on the go’ using their phones.

No dress code

If you are an office worker living in London, then the discomfort that comes with wearing a suit on the long commute underground is all too familiar to you. Office-wear is very restrictive and can often prevent workers from feeling like individuals, inhibiting their creativity and enthusiasm at work. Working remotely from work means this needn’t be an issue as you can wear whatever you like from the comfort of your home.

Boost your morale

Sitting in the same chair at the same desk, 9-5 every single day is inevitably going to result in increased stress levels. However, studies have found that 82% of remote workers have reported lower stress levels. This is not only beneficial for the employees, but also for the companies that employ them. This is as these workers will work more productively and are far less likely to need to take sick days off work.

Should you hold conference calls or a video calls?

Admin 12th March 2021

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.

Business Conference Calls, Remote Working

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How to encourage conference call participation

Admin 2nd March 2021

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.

Business Conference Calls, Business Tips and Advice, Conference Call Tips, Remote Working

How to improve unspoken communication on a conference call

Admin 3rd February 2021

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.

Business Conference Calls, Business Tips and Advice, Conference Call Tips