Videoconferencing tips: Travel less in 2009

As a mobile professional, travel is essential to your job. But it doesn't actually help you do your job, does it? In fact, travel actually gets in the way of being productive. Or it makes you so tired and stressed, you're barely able to show up to a meeting, let alone contribute brilliant ideas.

For the next three weeks, I'll suggest some New Year's resolutions for you to consider. The idea behind each resolution is to make your life a little more comfortable and less stressful in 2009. This week: Use communications tools to reduce travel, stay connected to colleagues, and increase the power of your messages. Next week: how to be kinder to your poor body with a proper ergonomic setup. And finally, services and tools for syncing your data across multiple computers and devices.

Resolve to Videoconference Instead of Travel

Remember how the CEOs at the big three automakers flew to Washington in private jets to ask for a bailout? Well, after being brought back to Earth by a barrage of deserved "what-were-they-thinking?" outrage, the big boys decided to give up their private jets. And PR reps at the big three subsequently announced that whenever possible, employees at those companies would videoconference instead of travel.
Now they get it.

Videoconferencing can be a practical alternative to business travel. It's "green," it saves you time and stress, and it saves your company money. Videoconferencing works best when it's with people you already know, such as your colleagues or long-time clients and partners.

When is videoconferencing not a good idea? I wouldn't use it for the first few meetings with important new partners or clients. In that circumstance, there's nothing better than actual face time.

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