May 29, 2012, 2:09 PM —
It’s funny how over time science fiction turns into science fact and becomes an everyday reality.
The examples of this phenomenon abound. Jules Verne wrote of undersea ships and in time submarines came into existence. Special Agent Maxwell Smart had a phone in his shoe and along came cell phones. Various books, movies, and TV included phones with graphical capabilities, now Skype, the new iPhone application, and other similar tools have become commonplace. Who knows, maybe one day, Scotty actually will be able to beam us up.
As the title of this blog alludes, this week’s topic is not a discussion of about how science fiction can become science fact. It’s a blog about how you, as an IT professional, can use Skype type tools to help yourself professionally. So let’s get to it.
Success in business requires successful communication. That said, my premise is the more effectively and cost efficiently you can communicate, the more successful you can be.
The number of virtual teams and remote workers has never been higher. Therefore, anything that helps facilitate improved communication, teambuilding, and teamwork can be of great advantage. Skype, and tools like it, provide a unique ability to bring those who are far away, closer together. The military uses it to let soldiers in foreign lands speak to and see their loved ones. Grandparents in far off cities use it to see the face of a new born grandchild. Using the phone and hearing a voice is great, but humans are visual creatures and as a result, seeing as well as hearing the person you are talking to greatly enhance the experience.
All that said, here are ten ways that you can use these tools in the workplace to enhance your personal productivity, enhance your impact, maximize your visibility, give more compelling remote presentations, and establish closer professional relationships.
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