How to improve communication with coworkers during social distancing

In this era of physical distancing, social cues are limited. Here’s how to maintain—or even improve—relationships with your coworkers during this tough time.  In this era of social distancing, it is hard to get these social cues. Low-bandwidth internet can make it hard to catch the tone of voice or the facial expressions of people you’re talking to.

FastCompany.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Is It Even Possible to Focus on Anything Right Now?

Weeks into the new reality of stay-at-home orders, remote work, and being constantly bombarded by news of how bad things can get, we’re all getting used to new ways of getting business done. For many of us, one detrimental result is that we’re struggling more than ever to find the focus we need to be productive. … Practicing attention management is about maintaining control of where your attention goes, and recognizing when it’s being stolen…

Harvard Business Review click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Ultimate webcam tips: How to look and sound great online

As Zoom, Skype and WebEx meetings explode, you need to master these webcam techniques.  We’re all on more web conferences and video meetings via Skype, ZoomGoogle Meet and WebEx lately, so you may as well make a professional impression and get your point across memorably. Here are the six easiest ways to look (and sound) sharp when you meet online.

CNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Best encryption software for business in 2020

If strong encryption and security practices are not in place, businesses are not only opening themselves up to potential cyberattacks, but also the loss of corporate and customer information, fines for non-compliance with laws including HIPAA and GDPR, financial damage, and the loss of reputation.  Below, we list our favorite encryption solutions, suitable for users, SMBs, and enterprise players…

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Microsoft Teams: How to master remote work beyond the basics

Want to make yourself more productive with Microsoft Teams? Use these eight tips to master command-line and keyboard shortcuts, connect to external apps, and make useful content easier to find. …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Ensure Success Using the Top Ten Remote-worker’s Checklist

Now that millions are working from home, the challenges will become clear. Here are 10 to watch out for. …  to help you keep the company ship afloat – while also preserving your sanity.  It is  important to secure enough bandwidth…  it is important that security concerns stay top-of-mind throughout the entire process. A global crisis is a playground for cyber criminals…

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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How much and when: Check your stimulus payment

The federal government has started making direct deposits to tens of millions of Americans to help people survive financially in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The first payments began showing up for some people on April 11, and millions more were deposited on April 15.  When and how much can you expect to receive? Check the IRS’ new Get My Payment tool. …

ZWRAL.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Video conferencing from home: Ten golden rules

People I’ve talked to are still concerned with just how to get through a conference without messing up, while others have asked me how to up their game now that they’re conferencing regularly… So let’s get started. #1. RELAX…IT’S JUST PEOPLE…

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Zoom vs Skype: Can Microsoft offer ‘hassle-free’ video calls?

Skype has now used Twitter to promote a recently added feature that offers users “a simple, hassle-free way to connect with the important people in your life on #Skype, no sign-ups or downloads required”.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Who has banned Zoom? Google, NASA, and more

Video conferencing app Zoom has had a massive increase in users because of new remote work requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That spike in users also exposed a growing list of security flawsZoom bombing trolls have emerged, user email addresses and photos have leaked, calls aren’t being end-to-end encrypted, and flaws found in the Zoom installer allow an attacker to gain root access to computers that run a malicious version of it.

TechRepublic.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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Working from home? Stay connected using Microsoft Teams, for free

Microsoft Teams is a collection of online services that you can access through a web browser (at https://teams.microsoft.com) or through the Teams app, which is available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. … That combo of apps and services gives you the ability to invite people to join your organization and create teams for different groups; everyone in your organization can chat, with Slack-like channels within each team for group conversations; and private chat capabilities allow 1:1 and group conversations, with the option to add audio and video and share screens.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Remote-work rush created a playground for cybercrooks

Most organisations have a disaster recovery plan and a business continuity… Far fewer are prepared for a crisis requiring social distancing and working from home for long periods on a massive scale. … Hence the rush to buy laptops and webcams and other equipment to kit out home offices…

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Cyber criminals are trying a new trick to cash in on Zoom’s popularity

Cyber criminals are bundling malware inside installers of video-conferencing application Zoom in an effort to lure victims into unwittingly infecting their computers with malicious software.  As the coronavirus outbreak forces organisations around the world to shift towards remote working, Zoom has become the top choice of video-conferencing software for people – both when it comes to work and socialising.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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How to Tell If Your Employees are a Cybersecurity Threat

The biggest threat to your business and its data does not come from the outside.  It originates from your own employees. Either through well-meaning ignorance or active malice, they have the potential to put your data at risk to an incredible degree. Here’s how you can tell you’re at risk.  Like it or not, the greatest threat to your data comes from within. …

Technative.io click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Everything You Need to Know to Get Your Business Loan Forgiven

The SBA’s paycheck protection loan program is “really more of a loan that converts to a grant.” … Small businesses with fewer than 500 employees qualify, as will some larger companies. The program is aimed at helping businesses maintain their payroll during the significant business disruption caused by the coronavirus crisis.  Here’s how the loan forgiveness works:

Inc.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Zoom 101: A starter guide with important tips and tricks

Offices are closing. Travel is restricted. Employers are scrambling to knock together hasty virtual setups and access to corporate networks for workers now required to work from home. … One of Zoom’s key strengths is its simplicity, but this does not mean that the platform is without a variety of advanced features that remote workers will find useful for improving their productivity. …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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New Zoom Users beware: Hackers Now Targeting You

As people increasingly work from home and online communication platforms such as Zoom explode in popularity in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, cybercriminals are taking advantage of the spike in usage by registering new fake “Zoom” domains and malicious “Zoom” executable files in an attempt to trick people into downloading malware on their devices. …

TheHackerNews.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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Zoom: a chaotic beacon of light during the coronavirus lockdown

We’re weeks deep into a coronavirus-inspired lockdown, and for those of us lucky enough to work from home, the way we’ve been communicating has changed. No more “how was your weekend” by loudly boiling kettles. No more “how about that sports team” by the water cooler.   We’re all on Zoom now, and I absolutely love it. …

CNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Work from home: Essential gadgets and gear for productivity

One thing that I’ve learned to do is to make technology work for me, and with that in mind, here’s a list of what I believe to be essential gadgets and gear if you find yourself working from home because of the coronavirus outbreak.

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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New Study Finds: Working from Home Makes Workers More Productive

People no longer want to deal with the frustrations of driving to and from work: In fact, new research shows that one in four employees has quit a job because of a long commute. Many job seekers now rely on the flexibility of remote work to avoid these inconveniences. The real question: How do virtual and in-office workspaces differ?

Inc.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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How to Be Productive Working from Home (and anywhere else)

As coronavirus continues to spread, many of us are forced to work remotely to help reducing contagion. At first, working from home sounds like the dream: pajamas all day, working from the couch, slacking off… But it can quickly get unproductive if you are not indistractable enough. …

Medium.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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People Who Achieve Their Goals Live By These 7 Habits

So, if this is something you’re looking to improve in yourself, here are 12 simple ways you can start practicing the art of self-discipline:  1. Don’t set a goal without knowing how you’re going to track its progress. …

Medium.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Coronavirus: Effective strategies and tools for remote work

Whether or not coronavirus becomes a full outbreak, the trend of working from afar is currently experiencing a major boost as businesses shift to digital channels and more people avoid physical gatherings. Here are key approaches and tools to get the most from remote work. …

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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Teens get sneaky with their Apple AirPods. Will business follow?

This week, a video has wafted around the web that may turn your head away or your stomach around. Or your mind toward emigration to undeveloped land.  You see, this video showed the fun way kids are apparently communicating in class. With each other, that is.  It appears they’re swapping a single Apple AirPod of theirs for a single Apple AirPod of their friends

ZDNet.com click the link to read the rest of the story.  Get our free tools here.

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5 Ways to Distraction-Proof Your Mind

To regain control over our attention, our time, and our life, you need to first regain your brain. In this animated video, I provide some practical advice for how we can finally take matters into our own hands to fight distractions instead of waiting for the tech companies to fix the problem for us.

Nirandfar.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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Accelerate your success with certification training

For anyone looking to advance their professional career, few moves can make as immediate an impact as adding some advanced certifications to the resume.

BigThink.com click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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Beware of public USB charging stations

Travelers are advised to avoid using public USB power charging stations in airports, hotels, and other locations because they may contain dangerous malware, the Los Angeles District Attorney said in a security alert published last week. …

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How to stop getting distracted

Ever find yourself at work, desperate to finish an important project, but seemingly getting nowhere? Nir Eyal used to experience that a lot. Then he started to look at the science behind distraction and what you can do to stop it. In this episode, Nir explains how to stop getting distracted, why open plan offices don’t work and how Slack created a distraction free workplace.

anchor.fm  click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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Are the People Who Take Vacations the Ones Who Get Promoted?

Americans are taking less vacation time than at any point in the last four decades. Why? According to Gary Oster, Managing Director of Project: Time Off, “Many people don’t take time off because they think that it will negatively impact their manager’s perception of them. But, that isn’t the case at all.” If you or someone you know needs to be convinced to use your vacation time, here’s a list of reasons why it just makes good business sense: …

Harvard Business Review click the link to read the rest of the story. Our FREE Tools can help!

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