Teleconferencing: Just Like Being There?

As with any type of meeting, phone conferences require clearly defined goals. In the words of Yogi Berra: "Know where you're going, or you might end up someplace else." It also goes without saying that participants should be selected carefully: If people don't have something to contribute, they will distract from the goal. Beyond that, meeting by phone has its own set of challenges. Here are some tips to ensure that you get the right message across.