3 Time-Management Tips for Optimizing Work-From-Home Productivity
Thu Jul 20, 2017
“Make use of time, let not advantage slip.”–William Shakespeare
Remote Workers Carry Greater Responsibility for Productivity
Researchers predict 1.75 billion people – more than 40 percent of the... more
Remote Workers Carry Greater Responsibility for Productivity
Researchers predict 1.75 billion people – more than 40 percent of the... more
Is Constant Communication Hurting Our Personal Lives?
Wed Jul 19, 2017
Recent technology developments are the primary driver for today's ‘always on’ work culture. Thanks to smartphones, Wi-Fi, mobile collaboration tools and a work-obsessed culture, employees are... more
Organizing Your Day at Work: Increase Concentration & Productivity
Wed Jul 12, 2017
Some call it “in the zone.” Others refer to “getting in the groove.” In a recent post for the HubSpot blog, contributor Lindsay Kolowich labels it the “flow.”
We workers have many names for an... more
We workers have many names for an... more
How to Lead Brainstorming in a Virtual Setting with Moderation Tools
Thu Jul 6, 2017
In their book The Net and the Butterfly: The Art and Practice of Breakthrough Thinking, co-authors Olivia Fox Cabane and Judah Pollack make a simple analogy: Your brain’s creative mode behaves like a... more
How to Use Meeting Moderation Tools to Inspire Creative Collaboration
Wed Jul 5, 2017
“The world is obsessed with lone geniuses…
Yet, the best-known lone geniuses relied heavily on collaboration.”– Mike Trigg, Guest Writer, Entrepreneur magazine
Digital Transformation Requires... more
4 Ways Team Collaboration Tools Can Streamline Business Workflows
Tue Jun 27, 2017
Technology is redefining the way teams work together. Two years ago, just under a quarter of the American workforce reported completing some or all of their work from home, representing a shift away... more
Meeting Myths Debunked: When and How to Decline a Meeting Invite
Wed Jun 21, 2017
The world is obsessed with work meetings. To put that in perspective, in 2016, our customers spent more than 28 billion minutes in meetings. It’s no wonder that most employees have difficulty... more
Myths about Millennials in the Workplace
Tue Jun 13, 2017
Millennial employees have been stereotyped to death – so much so that, as one HR leader put it, “I’ve vowed … to never sit through another presentation on millennials in the workplace.” And yet even... more
West Video Meeting Gateway Named 2017 Stevie Awards Winner
Mon May 8, 2017
We are excited to announce that West Video Meeting Gateway (VMG) has been honored with the Bronze Stevie® Award in the Best New Software Integration Solution category in the 15th annual American... more
Comparing Meeting Loyalists, Meeting Fatigued, and Meeting Critics
Mon Mar 20, 2017
Whether you love meetings or hate them, our report on the state of meeting fatigue finds workplace meetings remain the most effective way to disseminate information, despite their impact on... more
West Launches InterCall Reservationless-Plus with Dolby Voice
Wed Mar 1, 2017
Every knowledge worker has suffered through that conference call - the one with distracting background noise, dropped audio and participants talking at the same time. Modern businesses rely on... more
Why Collaborative Teammates Sometimes Speak for Each Other
Tue Feb 21, 2017
“The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw away the bad ones.”- Linus Pauling, Chemist, 2-time Nobel Prize winner
His brilliance aside, Pauling’s quote leaves some unanswered... more
His brilliance aside, Pauling’s quote leaves some unanswered... more
Why Transformative Teams Collaborate Outside their Borders
Wed Feb 15, 2017
“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.”
- Ken Olson, President, Chairman, Founder of Digital Equipment Corp.
After reading the quote above, most of us would smile, if not... more
- Ken Olson, President, Chairman, Founder of Digital Equipment Corp.
After reading the quote above, most of us would smile, if not... more
Avoiding Obstacles that Trap Teams in Mediocre Collaboration
Thu Feb 9, 2017
Recognize and solve negative patterns or you’ll end up solving the same problems over and over.”
– Dan Rockwell, Leadershipfreak blog
In Winning the Brain Game: Fixing the 7 Fatal Flaws of Thinking... more
– Dan Rockwell, Leadershipfreak blog
In Winning the Brain Game: Fixing the 7 Fatal Flaws of Thinking... more
Removing "Fatal Obstacles" that Mislead Collaboration
Wed Feb 1, 2017
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."
– Albert Einstein
In his latest book, Winning the Brain Game: Fixing the 7 Fatal Flaws of Thinking, best-selling... more
– Albert Einstein
In his latest book, Winning the Brain Game: Fixing the 7 Fatal Flaws of Thinking, best-selling... more
4 Essential Collaboration Tools for Co-working Spaces
Thu Jan 26, 2017
Co-working spaces are notorious for housing budding entrepreneurs and tech startups, but they’re becoming an increasingly popular option for remote workers. According to our report on the mobile... more
7 Thinking Flaws that Lead to Collaboration Flaws
Mon Jan 16, 2017
Study after study confirms a recurring theme:
A lot of people in business believe a lot of business meetings are a waste of their time.
A recent example: A survey by OfficeTeam, a staffing services... more
A lot of people in business believe a lot of business meetings are a waste of their time.
A recent example: A survey by OfficeTeam, a staffing services... more
How to Communicate Effectively with a Global Workforce
Tue Jan 10, 2017
As technology pushes us into the future, the global market is changing rapidly - and with it, the way we communicate with our new global workforce has to change.
Mobile Work is the New Norm in the... more
Mobile Work is the New Norm in the... more
3 Ways Transformative Thinking Demands Collaboration
Tue Dec 20, 2016
In The Elegant Solution, award-winning author Matthew E. May offers a mantra for transformative thinkers:
What appears to be the problem, isn’t.
What appears to be the solution, isn’t.
What appears... more
What appears to be the problem, isn’t.
What appears to be the solution, isn’t.
What appears... more
5 Reasons Your Remote and Mobile Workers are Tuning Out
Mon Nov 28, 2016
Most of us in business have heard the old saw:
"Tell them what you are going to tell them; tell them; tell them what you have told them."
Executive communication coach Brett Rutledge calls this maxim... more
"Tell them what you are going to tell them; tell them; tell them what you have told them."
Executive communication coach Brett Rutledge calls this maxim... more
How to Use Collaboration to Rebound from Failure
Mon Nov 21, 2016
“There is no failure except in no longer trying.”
- Elbert Hubbard, writer, publisher and artist
In our post “How to Use Business Failures to Build Success,” we argued that “failing – even... more
How Collaboration Can Help Teams Avoid Burnout
Wed Nov 9, 2016
The advice seems counterintuitive: The key to coping with potential burnout in this age of rapid-fire digital interaction is spending more time connected.
Yes. There are perils to what some pundits... more
Yes. There are perils to what some pundits... more
How Video Conferencing is Reshaping the Workforce for Everyone
Tue Nov 1, 2016
According to industry analysts, video conferencing is on the rise. Several factors are fueling the growth, including a growing remote workforce. In research conducted by Global Workplace Analytics, 3... more
Refine Collaborative Leadership with Action Logic
Tue Oct 18, 2016
Today’s conferencing services and collaboration tools are a mix of digital technologies that unify all modes of business communication – voice, visual and virtual. So, managing efficient and... more
Are Remote Workers Missing Career Opportunities?
Wed Oct 12, 2016
By the time 2020 rolls around, roughly three-quarters of U.S. employees will be mobile workers, according to IDC estimates. Many companies are preparing by implementing remote work policies that are... more
Video Conferencing: It’s Just a Meeting
Tue Oct 11, 2016
According to the National Statistics Council, the average US employee spends 37% of their time in meetings. Sync ups, kickoffs, team updates, 1:1s – whatever you call it, it’s all about people coming... more
5 Collaborative Questions to Ask at the End of Meetings
Mon Oct 10, 2016
A meeting – in person, by phone, online or some combination of all three – is about to conclude. The session leader asks: “Any questions?” Silence ensues. A minute or so passes, the leader says, “... more
West Video Meeting Gateway (VMG) Officially Launches
Mon Oct 3, 2016
West Video Meeting Gateway is designed to enable a native video meeting experience within Microsoft Office 365 and Skype for Business for any endpoint.
In today’s world, business users are joining... more
EQ vs IQ: Which is Best for Collaborative Leadership?
Thu Sep 29, 2016
In a recent column for SmartBrief, author and leadership guru Matt Paese explored a continuing debate in today’s increasingly technologized business world: Which is best, IQ or EQ? In other words,... more
How to Make Collaboration Efficient and Effective
Thu Sep 22, 2016
In a recent column for Harvard Business Review (HBR), organizational psychologist and leadership guru Roger Schwarz shares “8 Ground Rules for Great Meetings.” Among them: “Use specific examples and... more
Tips for Effective Collaboration with Freelancers
Wed Sep 21, 2016
Freelancers are no longer a minor niche of the workforce. From 2014 to 2015, 700,000 U.S. adults joined the freelance community, which today encompasses nearly 54 million Americans who freelance on a... more
5 Tips to be a Better Collaborative Communicator
Thu Sep 15, 2016
Collaborative leadership helps encourage teamwork and productivity. To be a collaborative leader, you need to be a collaborative communicator. Here's how you can enhance your collaborative... more
5 Rules of Using Sarcasm in Business Meetings
Tue Sep 6, 2016
Ever start a meeting by saying something like: “Well, I’m sure we’ll have no trouble covering these 25 agenda items in the next 20 minutes, so let’s get started!”
Did your wisecrack inspire chuckles... more
Did your wisecrack inspire chuckles... more
4 UC Deployment Tips for Cisco & Microsoft Interoperability
Wed Aug 31, 2016
Earlier this month, Mike Nessler, West’s Unified Communications Services EVP of Global Product and Marketing, sat down with Telecom Reseller to discuss Cisco’s recent offering that promises... more
4 Questions for Gauging Collaborative Leadership
Thu Aug 25, 2016
Collaboration through virtual collaboration is enabling the democratizing of data in the workplace - redefining the nature of leadership, decision making, and productivity.
Digital technology is... more
Digital technology is... more
5 Tips for Vacationing Without Neglecting Work
Thu Aug 18, 2016
How to Unplug on Vacation without Hurting Your Performance
Summer is here, and for some of us that means vacation time! Winding down and taking a break from work is a great way to revitalize physical... more
Summer is here, and for some of us that means vacation time! Winding down and taking a break from work is a great way to revitalize physical... more
5 Ways to Take Over a Virtual Meeting
Tue Aug 16, 2016
On any given day in the United States, according to a recent article in Fast Company, more than 10 million business meetings take place in various forms – in person, by phone, online or some... more
How Interrupting a Meeting Can Boost Productivity
Mon Aug 8, 2016
High Performance and Low Performance are Contagious in the Workplace
Here’s some good news: Recent research shows that high performance in the workplace is contagious.
And now, some bad news: The... more
Here’s some good news: Recent research shows that high performance in the workplace is contagious.
And now, some bad news: The... more
Handle Sensitive Topics with Virtual Collaboration
Tue Aug 2, 2016
Among our running themes for this blog is digital business transformation, which analysts from the MITSloan Management Review define as “use of technology to radically improve performance or reach of... more
How Talking to Yourself Can Boost Productivity
Tue Jul 26, 2016
Is talking to yourself a sign you’re bananas?
No. But it’s a habit that can help you find a picture of one more quickly.
People Who Talk to Themselves Found to be More Productive
In an experiment... more
No. But it’s a habit that can help you find a picture of one more quickly.
People Who Talk to Themselves Found to be More Productive
In an experiment... more
How to Use Charisma as Influence in Meetings
Tue Jul 19, 2016
Charisma is an intangible asset for a business person, right?. Maybe. It may be possible to cultivate charisma and learn to use it effectively in business meetings.
cha·ris·ma
kəˈrizmə/
noun... more
How to Use Business Failures to Build Success
Thu Jul 14, 2016
Tips for Tough Talks in Meetings: Communicating Failures
Transformative business conversations can be tough – especially when all does not proceed as planned.
And in today’s rapid-fire digital... more
Transformative business conversations can be tough – especially when all does not proceed as planned.
And in today’s rapid-fire digital... more
7 Books to Hone Transformative Leadership Skills
Fri Jul 8, 2016
One of our core themes this year is “Transformative Conversations,” an appropriate topic for this space as conferencing and collaboration – i.e., people connecting, communicating and working together... more
5 Tips to Employ a Growth Mindset
Thu Jul 7, 2016
Ford. Spielberg. Winfrey. Disney.
Each of those names transformed an industry. And each of them suffered major setbacks in their business careers.
Failures Always Follow Successes
Henry Ford started... more
Each of those names transformed an industry. And each of them suffered major setbacks in their business careers.
Failures Always Follow Successes
Henry Ford started... more
Realistic Leaders Spur Transformative Interactions
Wed Jun 29, 2016
Striking a balance between optimism and pessimism plays a critical role for realistic leaders to foster transformative interactions among their teams.
Looking back on the first half of 2016, there’s... more
Looking back on the first half of 2016, there’s... more
5 Ways Effective Leaders Ask for Feedback
Wed Jun 22, 2016
By inviting constructive feedback from their teams, successful leaders can spur innovation and growth. Here's how to create an environment conducive to feedback that will benefit your organization.... more
Using Curiosity to Fuel Business Transformation
Mon Jun 20, 2016
Looking to Transform Your Business? Start by Stoking Your Curiosity
No matter the size, shape or focus of your company, odds are you’ve heard the term “Digital Transformation.” That’s because, for... more
No matter the size, shape or focus of your company, odds are you’ve heard the term “Digital Transformation.” That’s because, for... more
3 Productivity Myths Debunked and Revised
Tue Jun 7, 2016
As contributors to a blog featuring advice for increasing productivity, we have a confession to make: We know no one possibly could implement every tip or meet every standard of business behavior... more
How Good Followers Make Meetings More Productive
Tue May 31, 2016
American business culture is a bit obsessed with leadership. If confirmation of this passion is necessary, consider that, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, Amazon.com lists 362 books... more
The Secret to Storytelling with Video Conferencing
Thu May 26, 2016
According to a recent Visual Networking Index produced by our partner Cisco, video already represents 64 percent of all Internet traffic, a proportion that will swell to 80 percent by 2019.
Of course... more
Of course... more
5 Ways Mental Toughness Improves Productivity
Mon May 23, 2016
Say the words “mental toughness” to a room full of business people and most likely they wouldn’t visualize themselves.
Some may picture sports figures, such as ace pitchers, marathon runners or... more
Some may picture sports figures, such as ace pitchers, marathon runners or... more
3 Ways to Improve Listening Skills During Meetings
Fri May 20, 2016
Listen Up: most likely you don’t listen as well as you could. A common thread weaved throughout this blog over the past year has been the findings of a study by the staffing firm Robert Half.... more
Extroverts vs Introverts: Work Meeting Differences
Fri May 13, 2016
Maybe the rise of social networking is the cause. Or perhaps mobile devices with their array of immediate communication capabilities—such as texting, instant messaging and streaming video—are the... more
5 Ways to Turn Presentations into Conversations
Tue May 10, 2016
Presentations in the business world can make or break a sale, partnership or relationship. But experienced professionals turn the odds by turning presentations into conversations.
In his regular post... more
In his regular post... more
4 Ways to Improve Video Conferencing Comfort Level
Mon May 9, 2016
Video conferencing is shifting from a workplace rarity to an essential collaboration tool. But while many of us use FaceTime, Skype and other video conferencing tools in our personal lives without... more
Maximizing Cisco Spark with a Hybrid Approach
Fri May 6, 2016
Effective collaboration is a hallmark of a successful workplace. With today’s teams collaborating via messaging, meeting and calling, it’s up to companies to provide cutting-edge tools for these... more
'State of the Modern Meeting' Report by BlueJeans
Mon Apr 25, 2016
Every year one of our partners, video conferencing specialist BlueJeans, publishes research into the “State of the Modern Meeting.” For this third edition of the study, BlueJeans analyzed more than... more
The Top Pains and Potential of Video Conferencing
Wed Mar 16, 2016
Video conferencing is shifting from a workplace novelty to a collaboration essential, but social barriers and a lack of training have left many workers still preferring audio calls. Even as video... more
Video to Become Preferred Enterprise Communication
Tue Dec 15, 2015
Today’s enterprise workforce is more geographically diverse and technology-centric than ever before. A growing number of employees and clients are located remotely, working from all over the globe.... more
Good Storytelling Leads to Effective Meetings
Mon Dec 7, 2015
Some striking statistics from a recent infographic “2015: The year of video marketing” inspired me to connect a few dots.
In the infographic, a review of the latest research revealed experts believe... more
In the infographic, a review of the latest research revealed experts believe... more
Optimizing InterCall On-Demand Conferencing Part 3
Mon Dec 7, 2015
As we uncovered in our 2014 research, employees’ growing dependence on mobile technology—in their personal and professional lives—is transforming how, when and where workplace communication happens.... more
5 Annoying Conference Call Mistakes to Avoid
Mon Nov 16, 2015
One of the most common questions I get from training colleagues outside of the conferencing industry is “How do you train over a conference call? There are way too many distractions!” While I can see... more
Solving "A Conference Call in Real Life" Problems
Sun Nov 15, 2015
Anyone who has spent time on a conference call can attest to the fact that there are a multitude of awkward situations that can arise and ruin the overall experience.
These situations were pointed... more
These situations were pointed... more
How to Handle Negative Feedback Loops in Meetings
Wed Nov 11, 2015
Not long ago this blog shared techniques for dealing with “discord, discontent & disappointment” in meetings. My leading argument was, because studies show that many U.S. workers feel a lot of... more
Top 10 Things People Do While on a Conference Call
Thu Nov 5, 2015
West released a study that looked at mobile conferencing statistics and surveyed 500 professionals about their experiences with mobile conferencing. Read our overview of the study and view the... more
A Complete Guide to Unified Messaging
Tue Nov 3, 2015
Unified Messaging: An Overview
By now most people have at least heard of Unified Messaging, whether or not they have experienced and utilized its features. Unified Messaging (UM) is defined as the... more
By now most people have at least heard of Unified Messaging, whether or not they have experienced and utilized its features. Unified Messaging (UM) is defined as the... more
7 Ways Happy Leaders Run More Effective Meetings
Thu Oct 8, 2015
When faced with leading a meeting—whether in person, online or some digitally-assisted mixture of both—most of us reach for the extrovert switch and turn on the charismatic side of our personalities... more
The Case for Meeting Ear-to-Ear & Face-to-Face
Thu Sep 24, 2015
Communication via text will save time on meetings, right?
The tools certainly are available—smartphones, tablets, e-readers, etc. And the process would give back to workers some of the time so many... more
The tools certainly are available—smartphones, tablets, e-readers, etc. And the process would give back to workers some of the time so many... more
How to Build Rapport Like a Superhero
Wed Sep 16, 2015
Superhero movies make meetings look so easy. Consider the blockbuster Avengers: Age of Ultron. In the opening sequence, Tony Stark—a.k.a., the Invincible Iron Man—zips around a battlefield conducting... more
4 Tips for Making Internal Conference Calls Matter
Thu Sep 10, 2015
Conference calls are a standard part of the workweek for most full-time employees, but not all calls get the same respect. Our recent study about workers’ dial-in habits uncovered that, while most... more
Body Language Matters Even, Over the Phone
Tue Sep 1, 2015
Many business people have an intuitive sense their bodies can speak for them. But how many appreciate that their bodies also can speak to them?
Body language is more powerful than we thought, can... more
Body language is more powerful than we thought, can... more
Survey Reveals Conference Call On-Hold Habits
Mon Aug 17, 2015
They say that details like taste in music or reaction to being stuck in traffic say a lot about a person. At InterCall, we believe that conference call dial-in and on-hold habits are just as telling... more
8 Questions to Ask About Conferencing Providers
Wed Aug 12, 2015
In a previous post we looked at five smart questions to ask in order to find the best Unified Communications (UC) provider for your business. Finding the best conferencing provider for your... more
5 Ways to Encourage Telling the Truth in Meetings
Tue Aug 4, 2015
Who among us hasn’t felt a tremor or two, a little extra moisture in the palms or shifted this way and that in our seats during a meeting in anticipation of our turn to talk? Not because we fear... more
Avoid These Commonly Misused Words in Meetings
Wed Jul 29, 2015
So, did you read our post about the controversy surrounding the increasing use of the word “so” in business discussions?
Without stealing thunder from that piece, here’s the gist: Argument over the... more
Without stealing thunder from that piece, here’s the gist: Argument over the... more
3 Ways Courtesy Makes Meetings More Productive
Thu Jul 16, 2015
Google the term “networking etiquette” and you will receive pages of links to articles elaborating the ways a little bit of courtesy will carry you a long way in business. Makes sense, because when... more
Navigating Conflict, Argument & Debate in Meetings
Thu Jul 2, 2015
“For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument, debate.”— Margaret Heffernan, Author, Entrepreneur, Documentarian, Speaker
As CEO of five businesses, no doubt... more
As CEO of five businesses, no doubt... more
So, Do You Choose Words Carefully in Meetings?
Tue Jun 23, 2015
So, have you heard of the recent controversy surrounding the increasing use of the word “so” in business discussions?
Well, as far as this blogger can tell, the hubbub started more than a year ago... more
Well, as far as this blogger can tell, the hubbub started more than a year ago... more
3 Ways Email Can Make Meetings More Productive
Wed Jun 17, 2015
Is there any aspect of modern business that is the subject of more complaining than meetings? (See my recent post “Use Meeting Complaints to Make Better Meetings”) Well, if there is any contender, it... more
3 Ways to Deal with Business Meeting Discord
Thu May 14, 2015
A recent post, “10 Ways Business Leaders Can Optimize Meeting Time,” cites a study by staffing firm Robert Half Management Resources that revealed many U.S. workers feel about a quarter of the time... more
10 Ways Business Leaders Can Optimize Meeting Time
Fri Apr 24, 2015
No amount of convenience that software tools and cloud services lend to arranging and joining meetings—in person, online or otherwise—seems to alleviate the frustrations of business people... more
Use Meeting Complaints to Make Better Meetings
Wed Mar 25, 2015
Anyone involved in business knows there’s no shortage of complaining about meetings.
Here’s a top-of-my-head litany:
Meetings are too long
Meetings are too boring
Meetings are too disorganized... more
Here’s a top-of-my-head litany:
Meetings are too long
Meetings are too boring
Meetings are too disorganized... more
2015 Resolution: 5 Tactics for Better Meetings
Tue Feb 3, 2015
For many of us, meetings are often considered a necessary work-life evil, but there’s no reason for a business (or its employees) to subject themselves to another year of unproductive conferencing.... more
Survey: Bad Weather No Longer Excuse to Miss Work
Tue Jan 27, 2015
Every year, severe winter weather hits most of the United States resulting in school cancellations, impacting commute times and preventing (or at least hindering) millions of Americans from getting... more
Mobile Conferencing is Changing How We Work
Tue Aug 19, 2014
Mobile Conferencing Connects Employees to Work from Everywhere
As the workplace has changed thanks to new conferencing and collaboration tools, so has the way employees communicate with their co-... more
As the workplace has changed thanks to new conferencing and collaboration tools, so has the way employees communicate with their co-... more
Five Tips for Better Conference Calls
Fri Aug 23, 2013
Conference calls are one of the most efficient and cost effective strategies for reaching a business decision. When used properly, they can save thousands of dollars and several days that would... more
10 Tips for More Effective Meetings
Wed Nov 16, 2011
West Unified Communications' employees are located all over the world and meetings are held online instead of in a conference room much of the time. While online meetings are the next best thing to... more