Getting on together apart
Another week of WFH - yes, that’s short for Working From Home - has passed. You can see how quickly people adapt. So many meetings and events have moved online, it’s incredible. Even our six-years old was chatting online with his friends. And with it, comes a bit of trouble, too. Good to know about that, so you can take counter measures. For those of you who also want to move more meetings online, but don’t know how, I have some tips for you. But, before you read on, a question: have you already subscribed to this newsletter? No? Push the button, then read on:
Earlier this week, Yoga classes restarted in our village. Not like they normally do, but online. In a video call, with all participants at home. You maybe also have done more video calls than ever before in these past days. If not, you are likely considering how it can help your business stay afloat. But what tool should you use? Zoom, Hangouts, Jitsi, there are many fish in the sea. How do you select what's right for you? There are five question you’ll need to ask yourself to take you to the solution that works best for you:
How much is it worth to me?
With how many people and for how long am I talking?
How much tech can my participants handle?
What am I already paying for?
Does it work for me?
First of all, think how much this is worth to you. Many of these tools have free possibilities, but paying for a solution can deliver just the edge you might need to keep your business afloat. That leads to your second thing to consider: with how many people do you need to talk in a video call and for how long. This might surprise you, but some awesome solutions allow only 4 participants in their free version, while others allow much more, but only for a length that is shorter than most meetings I have been in. Paying often goes in steps, and each tool has different offerings in each step. It’s hard to compare them, if you don’t know what you need.
Third thing to consider is ease-of-use for participants. How tech-savvy are they? Can they install apps or additional software? For our yoga classes, for example, we had an audience that was mostly not using this type of tech in their normal daily lives. So, it was best to select the easiest thing possible.
Finally, know what you already are using. If your company is using GSuit, Hangout Meet is your way to go. If you are in the Microsoft Office atmosphere, check out what Teams can do for you. Several great online meeting solutions are part of office software packages. It could very well be that you are already paying for it. Better find out before you buy something new. In all other cases, note all the things you considered above on a list, and then start comparing.
Your final step, before selecting: take the solutions for a test drive and enjoy.
Links:
Troubles in online meetings
Jitsi Meet (thank you for the tip, Kristof)
Zoom
Google Hangouts
MS Teams
Support for female entrepreneurs
My friend Chiara in Paris is doing amazing things to support female entrepreneurs. Especially those with a history who normally would not have the best chances of succeeding. All the experience she has with that, is now made available, with the help of my former employer Capgemini, in a platform that provides assistance to female entrepreneurs in these difficult times. It’s focused on France now, available in French and English, and they’re looking at rolling it out in other countries quickly. If you need help, or can offer assistance, visit Foundher Lab.
Link:
Assistance for female entrepreneurs
Get your gig on
As I said, so many venues and events have moved online in the past week. From musea to business conferences. Even some events have emerged, specifically suited for times of physical distancing. Like the Swiss Sofa Festival happening now and next week on Instagram.
Helping hands
Two Dutch examples of people being creative to contribute to making the best out of what we are experiencing now. In the eastern part of The Netherlands, a whisky distiller is now using his equipment to make much needed disinfectants (thanks Maarten for the tip). A bit to the west, kids have turned into artists with messages, as they use their crayons for the #stoepkrijtchallenge. They are drawing colourful messages on sidewalks in front of the homes of people who really cannot go outside now (we have a partial lockdown in The Netherlands, where you can go outside, but not if you are in an at-risk group or having illness symptoms). There’s a video here, in Dutch, but if you look at the grandfather on his balcony, you know how much these little drawings can mean. Now, go and get your crayons out, and spread love.
A touch of poetry
Yes, I cannot send a newsletter without a touch of poetry. This time, shameless selfplug, I recommend episode three of poetry podcast Tripple Effect.
The inspotainment corner
We return to the French language to close off. My namesake Arjan shared this on his FB profile, and I loved it. You will have to follow the link to this great video. For those who care for us. Thank you. We will win.