Leverage Web Conferencing for Leadership

By Margery Weinstein

As companies grow and scale to maximize market opportunities, they need to increase their leadership pipeline to ensure a ready and able succession bench. And with workforces more global and dispersed, companies need to reach and connect with leaders more frequently in a cost- and time-effective way. One way they can do this is via communications and training solutions such as Web conferencing, says Angela Arvizu Szymusiak, senior learning consultant, Adobe Systems Incorporated. The key, she says, is knowing how to maximize use of your Web conferencing tool.

To build a leadership pipeline to engage and develop high-performing and high-potential senior managers for larger roles, a blended learning approach that leverages Web conferencing can be powerful and effective, says Arvizu Szymusiak. It can include, for example, assessment, online training, and manager involvement, as well as synchronous virtual instruction with speakers and participants located across the country and around the globe. For Adobe, leadership development is aided by its enterprise Web conferencing solution, Adobe Connect.

During live sessions, participants can ask questions of speakers and collaborate more deeply in online breakout rooms. A leadership program that properly realizes the potential of technology can be a game changer, says Arvizu Szymusiak. “We’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg here, but a blended approach, such as what I’ve touched on, can be crucial for building the capabilities of your current and future leaders.” Arvizu Szymusiak shares Adobe’s top tips for using your Web conferencing tool for leadership development:

• Have a step-by-step technical run-through for complicated logistics (e.g., multiple speakers in multiple locations using a variety of technology).
• In addition to the course facilitator, have one person dedicated to monitoring chat and addressing any user questions when using a solution such as Adobe Connect.
• If you don’t have a lot of experience, the advice of a cross-functional advisory council is vital.
• Appropriate resources in time and expertise will be needed to do this well.
• Find an executive sponsor to rally participants to the program.

HAVE INPUT OR TIPS on this topic? If so, send them our way in an e-mail to lorri@trainingmag.com with the subject line, “Web Conferencing,” and we’ll try to include your advice in an upcoming issue of the Training Tech Talk e-newsletter.