Great point, Usman.  Thanks for making us more sensitive to the realities involved with different cultures.

Excellent idea to provide training, or at least orientation, to effective techniques in videoconferencing.  I think everyone could benefit from that.

This goes to show how much we overlook!

DHagar

Cultural difference do pose a problem though in my opinion. Some people prefer correspondence through email to videoconferencing. Especially in the sub-continent, most dealings are done via indirect means, this trend in turn causes problems when different teams with different cultural backgrounds need to work together, communication gaps arise and that disrupts the overall balance of the task at hand.  I think people need to be trained at using videoconferencing, not just sent out there to fend for themselves.

You're right, Alison.  Plus they like ruling over something - those are the ones who run the unproductive meetings. 

Others want to focus on results, align plans, stay social, and move forward!

DHagar

It's like the "paperless office," a concept that makes so much sense, has been discussed for (at least one) decade, and still encounters more resistance than you'd imagine. I think, with videoconferencing, a lot comes to management expectations and styles vs. the capabilities of the technology. There are some people who prefer counting heads in an office. You may never convince them of the technology's benefits. 

I'm with you, Dream Chaser.  Like technology at large, it sits as a novelty until it begins to become common practice. 

We definitely have not embraced and begun to get the benefits of digital connections with videoconferencing.  So much time is still spent moving humans from space to space to sit and "meet".  As is pointed out in this article, it makes great sense to have people fully engaged when needed and strategically, focusing on the issue, action, etc.

DHagar

"It's Time to Connect With Videoconferencing" - - This is what I was saying back in 1995 with our product Sharevision 2000 for PC. Granted it was too expensive back then even with a dial up solution such as Sharevison but it worked good.  I hope we hurry up this is getting a little ridiculous for something so practical and simple to employ.  I still get blank stares, crossed arms and not much else of substance when suggesting remote work these days.   

I would think that this should be considered on a case-to-case basis. While some people can multi-task and really get things done, most people can't. At least, based on what I've seen from colleagues and stories I've heard from friends, and of course, from personal experience.

So, long story (or answer) short--Yes, I would think it's a good idea not being able to multi-task in these cases.

Thank you, @dhagar. We've all, I think, been to meetings where we've wondered why we just wasted an hour or 30 minutes; conversely, I hope we've attended meetings (or, ideally, held them), where most of the time was useful, and attendees left with concrete steps to take or goals in mind. Regardless of whether they're in-person or via videoconferencing, meetings should have a goal and a focus, as you say @dhagar. When that's the case, videoconferencing makes them more effective than phone- or email-based sessions since remote attendees are more prone to listen better, feel part of the group, and share their ideas and thoughts, just as if they were physically in the room. 

Good points, Joanne.  I like Alison's blog.  I truly think we can make wider use of videoconferencing.  Your identification of the value of focus is the key, I believe, to making those human connections productive. 

In the organization physical setting we spend a lot of time on the "peripherals", whether business or social, that do not directly apply or add value to the purpose.  I think the videoconferencing favors a focused purpose and the engagement of all parties.

DHagar

I agree, Kim, that unproductive meetings, regardless of the medium, are at the root of the problem here.  One of the benefits of working for home, or working virturally, is to be able to focus.  Unproductive meetings, like office chitchat, become diversions from that.