How are companies stumping the pump?
According to an i4cp survey of 804 employees, the following are the top responses for company strategies to combat higher gas prices:
- 33% Rely on videoconferencing
- 27% Encourage telecommuting
- 23% Promote carpooling
- 9% Provide company sponsored rides
- 4% Teach gas saving tips
Videoconferencing and Conference calls
Videoconferencing is great for organizations that have multiple locations in different regions. It can also be used by individuals with the simple addition of a web camera and VOIP headset. This approach maintains the personal feel and interaction of a meeting with the facial expressions of the participants. While videoconferencing is steadily growing, many organizations still rely on the tried and true technology of simple conference calls. While email is a powerful way to send communications, with or without attachments, it is not an effective substitute for a conversation. Email can be subject to misinterpretation. Email is read and responded to at the convenience of the recipient, which decreases the timeliness of a dialogue. For fast and effective bilateral communications, the conference call and videoconference are still the best alternatives to a live conversation.
By maintaining quality of conference calls, the need for travel can be greatly reduced. Maintaining a high quality of effective conference calls often involves setting an agenda in advance, starting and finishing on time, diligently documenting the meeting minutes and action items. Adhering to this regimen can make conference calls as effective as a personal meeting for most internal business requirements. For those instances that the conference call requires visual aids, there are many tools available for live and interactive web presentations. The web tools allow participants to take turns reviewing presentations, spreadsheets, charts, forecasts, and other computer generated information or materials. Supplementing the conference call with live demonstrations on the web is a great way to illustrate the message.
Conference calls and live web demonstrations can also be used for some client situations, and for some training classes. The in-person approach is usually preferred for dealing with important client proposals, discussions, negotiations, and training. However, conference calls and live web demonstrations are good tools for supplementing the personal meetings, handling communications on short notice, and engaging multiple parties from diverse geographies at the same time. Setting up standard methods for initiating this kind of virtual meeting, and making it easy for people to use, can make this option a very valuable tool for the entire organization.
Telecommuting and Flexible hours
More companies are realizing the hidden benefits of telecommuting. Some jobs require personal attendance for meetings, group discussions, physical, or manual activities. However, many organizations have discovered how to strike a balance between physical and virtual attendance. Quite often, organizations will use a combination of office hours and virtual attendance by telecommuting. After all, telecommuting has long been an accepted practice for those individuals who are required to travel extensively in the field. The most significant shift in perception for telecommuting is measuring performance, rather than attendance. In reality, individuals who telecommute are more likely to invest longer hours, and to be more productive, than those employees who limit work hours to office hours. Productivity increases as concentration is improved and distractions are eliminated. The interaction in the office can facilitate quick work related conversations, as well as many non-productive (albeit more interesting) personal conversations. The social interaction and teamwork of the office environment can be supplemented by apportioning some hours to concentrated telecommuting, thereby achieving a perfect balance of production and teambuilding social interaction.
Another option practiced by many organizations is flex hours. While this does not diminish the number of vehicles on the road, or the number of trips to and from the office, it can certainly reduce the amount of time spent in the car and consuming gas in slow moving traffic. By simply working with employees to review optimum hours for commuting, more valuable time can be spent at home or office, with considerably less time spent on the road. This extra time increases personal and professional productivity. This is especially true for working parents who may otherwise need to structure schedules around school or a child's activities. Most often, accommodating some flexibility in the schedule allows greater concentration during work related periods, as well as a dedicated and appreciative employee.
What are the benefits to the employee? For those days telecommuting, multiply the mileage by the gallons of gas, and the price per gallon, to see how much money remains in the wallet. One or two days telecommuting per week can save hundreds of dollars for many employees. For improved time from flex hours, multiply the time saved by your hourly wage to determine the financial rewards. In either case for telecommuting or flex time, it is more difficult to place a financial value on personal productivity and quality of life, but those rewards are even bigger than the savings at the pump.
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Words of Wisdom
"The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office."- Robert Frost
"The trouble in corporate America is that too many people with too much power live in a box (their home), then travel the same road every day to another box (their office)."- Faith Popcorn
"I used to work in a fire hydrant factory. You couldn't park anywhere near the place."- Steven Wright
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"John is one of those rare individuals who actually practices what they espouse. There have been more than a few individuals, whether they be authors, managers, or even parents whose behavior is not consistent with what they preach. John is a person of integrity and wisdom; someone not always found in the business world. He sees the larger picture. He understands the personal worth of each individual, no matter their station in life. John is the Trusted Advocate. Oh, he's a pretty nice guy too."
Mark BalinskiSenior Manager, ZSL Inc
The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity is available now online in hardcover and paperback
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is author of The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity, the fundamental guide to achieve extraordinary sales and sustain loyal customers. John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. http://www.executiveblueprints.com/ provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, and educational articles. http://www.instituteforadvancedleadership.com/ provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
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