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Overbooked and Canceled Flights: What are Your Rights?

Martin Loughlin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:14:13 -0500

Even the most organized business traveler is sooner or later going to hear those dreaded words, "Sorry, your flight has been canceled." And most people who fly regularly have encountered that most inconvenient of situations - an overbooked flight. However, you do have rights, even though it may sometimes seem as though your only right is to be ignored by the harassed ticket counter staff.

A $10 Billon Problem

Flight delays and canceled flights can be a huge problem, both for the individual traveler as well as the economy as a whole. It's estimated that flight delays cost around $10 billion in an average year and, as every business traveler knows, a canceled flight can be a major inconvenience when it comes to trying to reschedule meetings and events. Whereas all airlines have cancellations and delays, some have fewer than others. In general, the most reliable US airlines are Southwest, JetBlue and Continental.

Overbooked Flights

As most frequent travelers realize, all airlines routinely overbook flights as, on any given day, a certain number of passengers won't show up for whatever reason. The overbooking of flights is determined by a process known as yield management, which is complex and sophisticated. The goal of this system is to sell as many seats at the highest fare, as well as to ensure that every plane is completely full. The system is so accurate, that the chances of being bumped are slim - only about one passenger in every 10,000 is bumped. All airline reservations agents are required to tell you if a flight is overbooked, although they are not required to give you exact numbers.

But what are your rights? Well, as soon as you purchase a ticket, you are essentially agreeing to be bumped from an overbooked flight. However, nobody will be involuntarily bumped until an offer of compensation has been made and volunteers have been found to take another flight - and there are usually enough volunteers. If not enough people volunteer, then the airline will choose people to be bumped. If you are bumped involuntarily, you are entitled to monetary compensation as well as a seat on the next flight.

It's something of a mystery how the airlines decide who is going to be bumped; generally if you bought a cheap ticket or checked in late, you are at greater risk. If you purchased a full fare ticket and/or are a premium flyer with your airline, your chances of being bumped are reduced. Airlines may give preference to someone who is traveling for an emergency or due to some hardship - but not for a business meeting.

Sorry, Your Flight is Canceled!

Basically, if your flight is canceled, your airline must provide you with a seat on another flight; ideally this should be as close as possible to the time of your original flight, although their obligation is simply to get you to your destination, not necessarily on time. Airlines actually aren't obligated to provide you a seat on another carrier in the event of a weather delay (only for delays due to mechanical reasons) although most airlines will work with you to get you to where you're going. And you are generally entitled to hotel and meal vouchers in the event of a mechanical delay, but not in the event of a weather delay.

If you are provided with a seat on another flight due to a cancellation, legally the airline doesn't have to compensate you any further. However, if your new flight is leaving more than four hours later than your original flight, you can ask for a hotel voucher. If the new flight is unacceptable, you are entitled to a full refund, even on a non-refundable ticket. All airlines have a contract of carriage which explains much of this; you can find it on the airline Website or at the ticket counter.

Don't Forget...

If your airline does provide you with a seat on another carrier, ask the agent for the booking reference or confirmation number - that way you know the seat is confirmed. You should also not take it upon yourself to buy a ticket on another carrier and then try to get a refund on the original ticket after you have taken the flight. Your airline isn't obliged to help you. And most airlines will only allow one change to the ticket in the event of a cancellation, although if a better flight option becomes available, always ask if you can change again.

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The Danger of Mixing Business with Pleasure (or What We Can Learn from David Letterman)

Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:04:12 -0500

Uh oh. You're having unusual "feelings" for your boss and you're tempted to act on them. This dangerous scenario has been played out in the tabloids quite a bit recently and workplace relationship experts Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster have some words of warning before you give in to those romantic notions.

A Holistic Approach to Calendar Management

Joan Burge — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:01:49 -0500

The following is an excerpt from Joan's book, Become an Inner Circle Assistant

Managing a calendar effectively is a valuable skill. It's critical to the organization and productivity of your office. There are many aspects to appointment scheduling with which every administrative professional should be familiar.

The inner circle assistant doesn't just rely on a calendar when she schedules an appointment for the boss. She relies on big-picture knowledge.

Imagine that your boss is just returning from a five day business trip and will need office time to play catch-up. You'll free her first day back in the office for that purpose. Just because the calendar date is "empty" when you must schedule an appointment doesn't mean the date is "available."

Unless you acknowledge the importance of this distinction, you're likely to treat appointment coordination as a time management task and miss a ready-made opportunity to shine!

Imagine that you employ stringent gate-keeping rules prior to meetings that are likely to be demanding. You'll free the boss to concentrate on meeting preparation without distraction. Surely, this kind of pampering isn't frivolous; it enables your boss to be more productive. And, you're directly responsible for that result.

First Things First

Ideal assistant/manager teams are those in which the assistant is responsible, with the manager, for scheduling appointments. When that happens, you're likely to be using a mutually agreeable calendar tool for maintaining information. If, however, you and your boss schedule appointments independently from one another, it's likely that the boss has a calendar and you have a calendar. Sometimes each of you has more than one calendar. Pocket calendars, computer calendars, or the favorite desk calendars may be in use. With all these calendars floating around, how do you make sure appointments aren't missed and changes are made to all pertinent calendars?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the first thing to do is make sure you and the executive or executives you support are always looking at the same information.

Reviewing Calendars

If more than one scheduling calendar is in use, take the initiative and ask your boss to show it to you at regular intervals:

Every morning:

Discuss the day's events with your manager(s). Make any necessary changes, deletions, or additions. Contact any appropriate individuals regarding changes. Prepare materials needed for that day's events.

Weekly:

Review events in upcoming weeks. This allows you and your manager time to discuss and prepare agendas and materials, and to make necessary changes without waiting until the last minute.

Monthly:

Compare your calendar with your manager's as far as three months out. This gives you plenty of time to discuss, coordinate, and prepare as much as possible for future events. It suggests when you should and should not plan time off. Coordinating calendars helps the assistant be knowledgeable and sound intelligent when questioned about upcoming events.

On occasion:

Ask for general feedback with the goal of identifying adjustments that need to be made to increase productivity and reduce stress.

No doubt you can add to the following reminders. Please do!

Anticipate the manager's needs. This eliminates last-minute running around and the possibility of necessary materials not being found in time for a meeting. Prepare for critical time crunches. Will seasonal demands or something else that predictably requires "more" from you make out-of-the-ordinary arrangements desirable? Should temporary employees be hired? Or, should you solicit help from co-workers? It may be as basic as asking a co-worker to handle all your incoming calls. You can repay the favor by doing the same for him when he experiences a time crunch. (They say that -- forewarned is forearmed.) Watch for mail that arrives just prior to a meeting that's pertinent to the meeting. Flag it for your boss.Post Meeting Chores

There are three parts to meeting planning:

1) Pre-meeting

2) The meeting

3) Post-meeting. It's this last part that's frequently overlooked.

Who makes sure that things get done after the meeting? You can help by questioning your manager when he or she returns from the meeting. "Is there anything you need to do to fulfill a promise you made at the meeting?" Also, ask if the manager has requested action items you need to follow up on or look for in the mail.

TIPS AT A GLANCE Learn your manager's appointment preferences.Give your manager time between appointments to review mail, return phone calls, and work on priority items.Do not schedule meetings as soon as your manager returns to the office from lunch.Avoid appointments for the first thing Monday morning or the last thing Friday afternoon.Allow extra time for travel when scheduling meetings outside the office.Allow time in the morning for your manager to get organized.Allow time at the end of the day for your manager to wrap up and prepare for the next day.Special Book Bundle Deal for OA Members:

Order both of Joan's books, Become an Inner Circle Assistant and Underneath It All and save $10.

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OA Quiz: Are You a Good Listener?

KeriForsythe — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:01:31 -0500

When your boss comes to you with a request, do you give her your undivided attention? Or, do you pretend to listen intently, but actually disregard everything she has said? Let's face it: In the business world, it pays to be a good listener. After all, it's impossible to perform a job correctly if you don't know what's expected of you. So, are you interested in knowing whether your listening skills need improvement? Take this quiz to find out.

Instructions:

Read each statement and select an answer that best describes what you would do in the situation. Although you may not find one that describes you perfectly, choose the one that works best.

1. Be honest: How often do you check your e-mail, BlackBerry, etc. when you're on a business call?

A. All of the time. I get too antsy if I can't check my messages.

B. Sometimes. If the call is extremely important, I'll try to give it my undivided attention. If it's not, I'll multitask and check my messages.

C. Not very often. When I'm on a business call, I pay attention to the speaker - not my BlackBerry.

2. Your coworker's in the midst of lamenting about her poor performance review when your cell phone trills. You:

A. Mouth "I'm sorry," and answer the call.

B. Politely explain that you're expecting an important call, but promise to finish the conversation once you're off the phone.

C. Ignore it. You don't want to cause her any more distress by blowing off her problems. After all, you wouldn't want somebody to do that to you.

3. You're packing up for the day when your oh-so-talkative coworker comes by to discuss a project you're collaborating on. You:

A. Tell her that you're running late and ask her to update you via e-mail.

B. Speak with her for about five minutes and then make a beeline for the front door.

C. Allow her to briefly express her concerns about the project and then set up a meeting with her for the following morning.

4. You missed last week's business-development meeting because you were out sick. You ask your coworker to fill you in on what you missed, but he's not providing you with any concrete information. Frustrated, you:

A. Cut him off and state that you'll just ask another meeting-goer to enlighten you about the meeting.

B. Interrupt him to explain that you don't understand what he's trying to say and ask for clarification.

C. Attempt to repeat back to him what he has said once there's a lull in the conversation.

5. When you're conversing with someone, do you often use nonverbal cues to show that you're listening?

A. Not really. All that matters is that I hear what the speaker's saying.

B. Sometimes. I try to maintain good eye contact, but I don't routinely use any other cues to communicate that I'm listening.

C. Yes, frequently. I'm constantly aware of my body language and attempt to use other gestures, such as nodding and smiling, to convey that I'm paying attention to the speaker.

Count the number of A's, B's and C's on your list.

If mostly A's appeared on your list: Listen up: Your listening skills need some serious work. Although you may not realize the impact your behavior's having on your career, chances are that it's severely affecting your professional success. Fortunately, we're here to help. Learn how to be a good listener in this informative article.

If mostly B's appeared on your list: Although your listening skills aren't terrible, they could certainly use some improvement. For instance, did you know that there's a big difference between listening and hearing? It's true! Consider implementing easy communication strategies - such as nodding when others are speaking and refusing to interrupt them - and notice how they positively respond to you. Most likely, you'll be well on your way to being a top-notch listener.

If mostly C's appeared on your list: Congratulations, you're a fantastic listener! Thanks to your stellar communication skills, your coworkers (and boss!) consider you a consummate professional who demonstrates great empathy toward others. Keep up the great work and be sure to share your secrets to success with the OfficeArrow community!

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Challenge Your Potential: Competent Leadership Part 3

LisaOlsen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:59:49 -0500

Who didn't love the cowardly lion in the Wizard of the Oz? All he wanted was a little courage to get him through the day and keep him from being frightened of his own tail! As with his other yellow brick road friends, the scarecrow and the tin-man, he already possessed what he thought he didn't have; he just needed to dig deep to find it within himself and then use it. Each one of us has our own set of fears that stop us from attaining our true potential.

Administrative professionals who truly want to embrace and practice leadership in its purest form must have courage. Is courage something that someone has, like an asset, or is it something that one generates in the moment that action is required? I believe it's both.

The most critical component in the whole-hearted framework of success is the presence or absence of courage. Without it, success is not possible, leadership will not exist, and personal satisfaction is extinguished. The bottom line: where your courage stops is where your leadership stops. Why is this so?

Robert "Dusty" Staub, the founder and CEO of Staub Leadership Consultants says:

"Courage is the key to accessing, developing and engaging three of the great drivers of leadership effectiveness: integrity, passion and intimacy. Why is courage the key to bringing life to professed values and principles, to learning more quickly from mistakes, to more effective implementation? All of them require stepping beyond our personality, ego structure and habitual patterns."

It takes courage to face our fears and doubts and to then act. It is the exercise of courage that moves us into more honest, direct feedback and more productive relationships.

It is natural to want to do what is easy, practiced, habitual and polished. It is natural to follow the path of least resistance. Yet, to lead with integrity, to learn quickly, to generate and transmit learning, and to implement effectively requires moving through the pain, uncertainty and discomfort of changing our thinking and behavior. Without courage, we take the easier path.

It requires choosing what you most want in spite of doubts and fears and then respectfully challenging those around you. You develop yourself as a whole-hearted leader day-by-day through the choices you make.

Is there ever any guarantee that when you take a risk, you'll get the outcome you want? Of course not. But NOT taking the risk does guarantee you one thing. Nothing will change. Risk taking is inherent to every leadership position.

Each of us has a unique set of skills, experiences, desires and values. What requires lots of courage for one person may require little or none for another.

There are lots of opportunities to act with courage on a frequent and conscious basis. Depending on your personal experience and individual values, one or all of these might require courage:

Telling the truth when it's easier to be silentSpeaking in front or large groupsExpressing what you perceive to be an unpopular opinionTelling a close friend or co-worker how you feel about themTaking on assignments and projects where you are aware of your shortcomingsHaving a difficult conversation with a bossJumping into a leadership role, even though it's not your job

Claim your courage now. If courage has eluded you in the past, today is a good time to muster some up. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, listen to your intuition and speak up. Exercise your voice of courage when someone puts you down or when the water cooler gossip gets out of hand. When we take a decisive course of action, we become a catalyst for change and an example of leadership to others.

Building Your Courage Quotient:

Here are some exercises to consider to help you assess and build your courage:

1. Name three people you consider courageous. What actions do they take that exhibit that courage? 2. Think about a situation you would like to influence. What fears will you have to face in order to move forward? 3. Recall a specific situation at work when you were proud of yourself. Maybe you confronted a supervisor who berated you in front of others, or perhaps you devoted personal time to learning a new skill that benefited your career. Relive that experience, and write down the specific behavior you used that elicited the pride you felt. That was courage at work! (Literally and figuratively!)4. Think of a time when you elected not to act decisively. That was a missed opportunity that can never be reclaimed or relived. Think about how the outcome could have been different if you had acted with courage.5. State your intent to claim your courage. Write it on a 3 x 5 card and post it where you can see it every day.

Acting with courage more consciously can be a wonderful source of personal and professional satisfaction. It's paramount to practicing informal influence and true leadership.

And remember, courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says... I'll try again tomorrow.

Lisa Olsen provides OfficeArrow members with down-to-earth career advice from her extensive experience as a Career Consultant. An author, trainer, speaker and consultant, Lisa's dedication to building relationship chemistry and helping people power up their potential has been the catalyst for her own success. You can learn more about Lisa and her services here.

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OA Book Club: Review of "Organizing From the Inside Out"

Chrissy Scivicque — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:58:30 -0500

Talk to any professional organizer (including our very own Sara Caputo, the Productivity Guru) and you'll probably hear the name "Julie Morgenstern" at least a few times. As the foremost authority in professional organization, Julie developed most of the systems used in the field today. Her book, Organizing from the Inside Out, outlines these key concepts and provides practical, tangible strategies that anyone can implement to bring more order to their home, office and life.

The book makes some big promises right from the beginning. The systems are described as "foolproof" and readers are told that they will "discover [their] own power to get organized, stay organized, and bring out [their] own personal and professional best." That's a serious goal. And, after reading this book cover-to-cover, I feel pretty confident saying that it's no exaggeration.

Organizing from the Inside Out offers a straight-forward, step-by-step guide for establishing physical order. Julie uses a three step organizational process - analyze, strategize, attack - that can be applied to any space or situation. Here's a breakdown of what each step looks like:

1. Analyze: Take StockWhat's working?What's NOT working?What's most essential to you?Why do you want to get organized?What's causing the problems? 2. Strategize: Create a Plan of Action Define your zonesMap out the spaceRearrange furnitureEstimate the time3. Attack: Get the Job DoneSortPurgeAssign a homeContainerizeEqualize (this is where ongoing discipline is addressed)

Morgenstern uses the entire second half of the book to walk through this three step process, applying the technique to various spaces in homes and offices. These pages are literally bursting with helpful and unique ideas. Personally, I successfully applied a few of her tips for handbag organization (yes, I created "zones" in my purse) and bathroom organization (I found her jewelry tips particularly helpful). And while these specific tools certainly add an enormous value to the book, the true golden nugget is the process itself.

As for the reasons so many of us fail when it comes to organization, Morgenstern dedicates a chapter or two at the beginning of the book to analyzing the various factors involved. She boils them down to three fundamental issues: technical errors, external realities, and psychological obstacles. I found this information insightful and it definitely helped me identify my own issues (FYI: I suffer from a need for perfection and a fear of losing creativity).

All in all, I found this book helpful and I would definitely recommend it to someone who is looking to take control of chaotic physical space. It's engaging to read and the systems are easily applied to real life. I think Morgenstern does an exceptional job covering the various aspects of the organization issue - from causes to remedies to the ongoing discipline required. This final point is one that is overlooked in many books on this topic. Organizing from the Inside Out is comprehensive and realistic. You can tell that the author has seen it all before. She knows what works and what doesn't and we can all feel confident that these strategies have been put to the test many times over again.

Next Month's Selection:

In the month of November, the OA Book Club is focusing on the employee/boss relationship. We're picking up the new book by bestselling authors (and OA contributors) Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster, Working for You Isn't Working for Me.

If you're struggling with a difficult boss, or just looking to improve the professional relationship, this book is for you. Instead of acting out or giving up, you can take control by applying the practical four-step process in this book. Filled with the concrete examples of bad boss scenarios, this book will help readers take back their power from even the most challenging authority figures - Chronic critics, yellers, unconscious discriminators, control freaks, pathological liars and more.

Pick up your copy today and share your thoughts throughout the month with the OA Book Club.

Want to learn a few tangible techniques you can implement right away AND get a preview of the new book? Join the Premium webinar on Thursday, November 12th presented by Kathi and Katherine. Learn more and register.

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So Long, Vista! Seven Reasons You'll Love Windows 7

Dawn Bjork Buzbee — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:56:58 -0500

Fed up with Vista? Still using Windows XP? The long-awaited release of Windows 7 will have you swooning. The Software Pro gives an overview of the top new features and tells us why this new version is the unassuming, practical upgrade we've been waiting for.

Last Minute Meetings? Jump Online!

Deborah S. Hildebrand — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:56:35 -0500

This article is sponsored by GoToMeeting, a proud supporter of OfficeArrow. GoToMeeting is the easiest, fastest and most secure solution for conducting and attending online meetings. Try GoToMeeting for FREE for 30 days.

No matter what your feels are about meetings, they're not going anywhere. Meetings are a very necessary part of the business landscape. But they don't have to be painful or costly. In fact using a Web conferencing tool can make meetings fast, inexpensive, and - best of all - convenient.

Because so many organizations have employees scattered across the continent and around the globe, face-to-face meetings require hours of travel and meeting coordination time. The planning process can be a virtual nightmare, especially when it comes to the last-minute, impromptu meetings that pop up out of nowhere. Not only are last-minute travel costs prohibitive, but these unexpected disruptions can throw a wrench in any business. That's where technology steps in.

Web conferencing is a more cost-effective, time-saving way to hold a spur-of-the-moment meeting.

Web Conferencing Brings People Together

Web conferencing allows multiple computer users to connect via the Internet in real time and see the same screen in their Web browser. And many Web conferencing service companies offer features such as texting capability, file sharing and collaboration tools. For instance, GoToMeeting includes several handy features as part of their flat-fee pricing model. These include VoIP and toll-based phone audio options, meeting recording and playback, and end-to-end encryption for complete security.

Web conferencing allows you to meet with your employees, vendors, and even customers to hold business meetings, offer online training classes or seminars, make presentations and conduct demonstrations, or even offer customer support all through a high-speed Internet connection.

Most personal computers have the ability to use Web conferencing through their existing browsers, so the software is easy to install and generally easy to use, even for first-time users.

Find the Right Web Service for Your Organization

Before you decide which Web conferencing service provider gets your business, it is important to consider a few things.

First and foremost, you need to think about what tools you will need to make your meetings successful. Generally speaking, a regular staff meeting has a different set of criteria than a new product demonstration or training slideshow presentation. Understanding what kinds of bells and whistles are required to fill your meeting needs is important.

Next, determine who can provide the best tools and quality support for your organization. Knowing how many and what kind of meetings your company has annually will help to define your future plans. While there are several meeting services out there, you'll want to find one that's flexible and offers more than one solution. GoToMeeting, for example, offers a variety of features and meeting solutions, whether you need meetings for 15 people or fewer or Webinars for up to 1,000.

Your final considerations should be ease of use and cost. Things such as easy-to-understand controls, the ability to change presenters during meetings, flexibility when it comes to including both PC and Mac users, as well as the capacity to share specific applications can make your meetings more successful and productive. GoToMeeting offers these features and more for a single low monthly fee.

Meetings don't have to be the painful, time-consuming, face-to-face events that they've been in the past. Instead, using technology and the Internet, you can virtually host and attend successful online meetings anytime, anywhere and with anybody - with only minimal planning required.

With GoToMeeting, it's easy to meet, present information, demonstrate products and provide training online. You can try GoToMeeting for FREE for 30 days. Give it a test drive and see how much time and money you can save.

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Communication: The Missing Link to Increased Productivity?

Sara Caputo — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:55:45 -0500

Are you missing deadlines? Accidentally doing work that someone else has already completed? Wondering if your co-worker is already handling a task or if it's on your plate?

These are just a few of the problems that arise when we fail to communicate clearly and consistently with our supervisors and co-workers. I see it all the time in companies when I get called in to consult on projects hindered by disorganization. After a minimal amount of investigation into what is really going on, the culprit is very often a lack of communication between team members.

When one person doesn�t have the timeline for a project and isn�t sure where it currently stands in the process, the solution isn�t to flounder around wondering; rather, you need to go directly to the person from whom this information should be coming and ask for a status update. It�s such a simple solution, but so often, it gets missed. One person�s lack of communication can have huge ripple effects on projects, deadlines and ultimately the bottom line.

Is communication your missing link to increased productivity and efficiency? Here are a few solutions to consider:

If you are waiting on something and need the information in order to move ahead, it doesn�t hurt to ping the person with an email or voicemail and just check in as a gentle reminder.If you don�t meet already with your manager regularly, consider setting up a weekly �check-in� meeting. This should not to take the place of larger group meetings, but should be used to ensure that you are staying on the same page and consistently meeting expectations.If you work with a team, make sure you're meeting face-to-face regularly to check in on the progress of projects. Again, these are just quick check-ins. Remember that instant messages, emails and phone calls don't take the place of face-to-face communication.Be clear about job descriptions and who is responsible for a specific project or task.Ask for help! If you are drowning in a project and need help, ask your supervisor for feedback or request assistance from a co-worker so you can stay on track with deadlines and other responsibilities.

Clear, consistent, simple communication is the best tool when it comes to keeping your personal productivity levels boosted. Without it, it�s easy to second guess yourself and lose your center. So, the next time you find yourself wondering if someone else already did that �thing� or questioning what that person�s role is in a project � instead of wondering, just ask!

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GoToMeeting: The Possibilities are Endless

OfficeArrow — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:52:46 -0500

These days, it's safe to say that most business professionals have money on the mind: saving it, making more of it, and doing more with the money we've already got. In offices around the globe, people have been asked to find new and innovative ways of working efficiently. We've been told to spend wisely and save feverishly. "Do more with less." This is the mantra of our times.

Here at OfficeArrow, we don't see this as a bad thing. In fact, helping you "do more with less" is what we're all about. Our newest sponsor, GoToMeeting�, is the perfect resource for anyone looking to stretch their meeting budget, increase their productivity, and improve their team's collaborative capabilities. Needless to say, we're thrilled to welcome GoToMeeting to the OA family!

For those of you who aren't familiar, GoToMeeting is the easiest, fastest, and most secure solution for conducting and attending meetings online. With the All You Can Meet� flat-fee pricing model, individuals and businesses can use online meetings to improve sales presentations, allow for real-time collaboration between team members regardless of location, and provide up-to-date training for customers and employees around the globe - all without spending a single dollar on travel expenses!

GoToMeeting's top-of-the-line features include:

Intuitive User Interface: Easy-to-understand controls enable you to start and join meetings in seconds without training.Share Keyboard and Mouse Control: Securely collaborate on documents in real time.Instantly Change Presenters: Enable any participant to present to the entire group.Drawing Tools: Draw, highlight and point to items of interest right on the screen.Desktop Recording and Playback: Record meetings to review or share later.Specific Application Sharing: For added privacy, share only the application you choose.Integration: Access GoToMeeting through Microsoft� Office�, email or instant-messaging applications.Mac� Support: Mac users can host and join GoToMeeting sessions.Reporting: Get detailed reports for trend analysis and ROI validation.Total Audio: Choose integrated free phone conferencing, VoIP or both.

The possibilities for online meetings are endless. They have the ability to expand the reach of your company, making global communication and interaction easier and more affordable than ever before. Online meetings are truly the definition of "doing more with less".

Intrigued? Well, you're in luck! You can try GoToMeeting for FREE for 30 days. Give it a test drive and see how much time and money you can save. We're willing to bet that, once you get the hang of it, you'll be an online meeting enthusiast for life!

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