Ever since the telephone became an essential business tool, we've been using it to substitute for face-to-face meetings.  And, many people still haven't learned how to manage a teleconference.  It's so popular that you'll get lots of leverage by learning how to plan and execute teleconferences.

Often, teleconferences meander, people seem unfocused, and important work doesn't get done simply because there's no clear purpose.  Getting to a clear purpose in the minds of all players is important, and lays the groundwork for measuring productivity.

eMail has grown up without clear standards, and there is wide variation in individual performance.  Some of the basic rules for good eMail messages are illustrated here; use them, and your eMails will elicit the kinds of responses you want.

The Internet is changing the rules of business and management, and the trends demand new management skills.  People continue to demand the right to work away from the office, and managers have to learn how to achieve results without the ability to observe people every day.

Collaboration gets work done faster and better than independent workers; the shared information and skills improve productivity.  But, there are security risks in collaboration to which you need to pay attention so your competitors don't learn from you.

Subscribers may participate in monthly "laboratories," where we actually use some of the methods, techniques and technologies we describe in the newsletter.  You can gain real experience, see how the experts do it, and transfer those skills to your own situation.

Managers, employers, contractors and consultants are all changing the ways they work with each other.  This newsletter is written for you, so you can learn what works in other companies and organizations, and get practical guidance about how to apply them to your own situation.

If you don't have Adobe Acrobat on your computer, you can download it, free: