Remember when going to work meant regularly interacting with your superiors, coworkers, and subordinates? Today, that is not a given. According to The State of Telework in the US, a report by GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com, as of October 2012, more than 3.1 million employees in the United States are telecommuters. While telecommuting has its advantages, it also has its costs, one of which is the lack of regular interaction with other employees. In fact, the lack of face-to-face interaction was one of the reasons behind Marissa Mayer’s recent decision to reverse Yahoo! to work from home.
While banning telecommuting is a drastic and highly unpopular move, it is not necessary. The same technological evolution that made telecommuting a mainstream option has also led to innovations that bring remote employees back together. Webcasting makes face-to-face interactions a simple matter of pointing, clicking, and smiling.
What exactly is webcasting? In its most basic form, Internet streaming involves the use of software to stream live audio and video. For example, if you’ve ever used Skype or Facetime to video chat with a friend, you’ve participated in a basic webcast. Similarly, if you’ve ever watched a live event on your computer or logged into a live video conference or webinar, you’ve experienced a webcast.
A webcasting platform can bring your entire team together, regardless of where people are. Whether a small team needs to collaborate on an upcoming project or you need to deliver a video presentation to the entire global workforce, webcasting makes it possible to do it with full-motion video and crystal-clear audio.
Video brings an additional dimension to interactions: visual cues. For example, while your employees could certainly collaborate using voice or text-based tools, they can’t read each other’s body language. This can be especially important when employees come from different backgrounds. A simple smile or shrug can overcome language barriers. Facial expressions convey a lot of information that is lost on the phone or also by email. Also, being able to see the movement of a person’s lips as they speak helps listeners better understand what is being said, especially if the speaker has a thick accent or the listener is hard of hearing.
In an increasingly disconnected workplace, webcasting can also break the ice and build stronger relationships. While emails can seem demanding or impersonal, video conferencing reminds employees that there is a real person on the other end who needs help.
Webcasting can also bring together employees who might not otherwise have the opportunity to work together. For example, one of your star customer service representatives in Singapore could provide helpful customer service tips to new call center employees in the United States without having to travel. What about the time zone difference? The webcast can be delivered live or recorded for later. Not only can you use the initial webcast now, but you can also use it to bring future employees up to speed.
The possibilities are virtually limitless. If your employees are separated by distance, bridge that gap and bring them together with an enterprise-wide webcast solution.