Conscious Communication – Voice Mail Etiquette
April 30, 2010 by Phil Montero · 2 Comments
One of the things we often talk about when making the shift to mobile work is the importance of clear communication. It’s essential to be a “conscious communicator” and think about what tools to use for what type of message and how you use them.
One tool we all use constantly is voicemail. It makes me crazy when someone leaves me a voicemail and doesn’t tell me what they want or rushes through their phone number so I have to replay the message several times just to write it down. When I leave a message I am always sure to speak slowly and repeat my name and number at the beginning and the end of the message. I also make sure to let the person I’m calling know what I need or why I’m calling. Something as small as this can cut down on a lot of wasted time and unecessary phone tag.
Today I discovered Jason Seiden’s blog and an excellent video he posted on voice mail etiquette.
Jason hit the nail right on the head here and I’m looking forward to exploring his blog further!
What do you do to be a more conscious communicator? Post a comment below and share your personal guidelines.
4G Wireless: 20 Questions Asked & Answered – CIO.com – Business Technology Leadership
April 28, 2010 by Jason Montero · Leave a Comment
4G Wireless: 20 Questions Asked & Answered – CIO.com – Business Technology Leadership.
I’ve been seeing the ads for 4G and wondering what it’s all about. So I thought I would share this article I saw today that tackles a little Q&A.
Using Technology for a Lean, Green, Virtual Team
April 22, 2010 by Phil Montero · 2 Comments
It’s no surprise that telecommuting, workshifting, or virtual work – whatever you choose to call it – not only makes smart business sense but can also help you run a more environmentally friendly business.
Whether you are a large corporation, small business, or solo professional there is a lot you can do to lighten your ecological footprint. When you reduce the need to travel and take advantage of technology to collaborate from anywhere you keep tons of carbon emissions from polluting the world. A shift to printing less and using more digital documents saves untold numbers of trees.
By taking The Anywhere Office® approach you’ll save money, be more productive, and be more green. So this Earth Day make a commitment to make even a small adjustment to the way you work to do your part.
You can start by downloading The Anywhere Office Toolbox – our free eBook contains information and links to technology, services, and other resources we find of benefit to mobile workers, virtual teams and supporting virtual offices and distributed work.
You’ll find tools for gaining remote access to your documents or computer, holding web meetings and conferences, sending and receiving digital faxes, sending video email and holding video conferences, dealing with time-zones, and marketing your business online.
These are all free or affordable solutions with free trials – so there is no excuse! Incorporate some of these tools today and make your business more green.
Unchain yourself from the office; work where and when you want.
The Mystery of Multitasking: Productivity Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs
March 10, 2010 by Phil Montero · 30 Comments
Today I’m psyched to share a guest video post by my friend and colleague Chris Ducker. I met Chris through Twitter and it was immediately obvious we shared a passion for working virtually and living a flexible lifestyle.
Chris is the CEO of the Live2Sell Group of Companies, a thriving Total Business Outsourcing corporation based in the Philippines where he lives.
Chris has developed systems and ideas to manage his time and make his business life easier and more productive. Watch this short video where he explains why multitasking actually makes you less productive and shares tips for staying focused and growing your business:
Are you using Instant Messaging in your business?
March 2, 2010 by Phil Montero · 2 Comments
I’m always surprised that more people don’t use instant messaging as one of their key business communication tools. Sure everyone uses email (probably too much) but IM is often relegated to chatting with friends or family. That’s why this recent post by Jerry Lattimore on his excellent Refocusing Technology blog really caught my eye.
Are you using instant messaging?
Instant messaging is a fantastic tool and should be utilized by many businesses to allow for greater communication between their resources. It fits a need that isn’t completely served by email or phone communication.
In this post he gives some excellent examples of how companies are using IM – even some using it to communicate between different floors of the same building. My wife and I use to work down the hall from each other in our old apartment and we used it rather than yelling down the hall.
I use it all the time with Jason when we are collaborating on something or just have a quick questions. It’s also a great way with co-workers or team members to share files and create a sense of “presence” being that you can “see” each other online even though you are not in the same place.
What about you? Do you use IM for business communication and collaboration? Please post a comment below and let us know!
