If running effective, productive, in-person meetings wasn’t hard enough, nowadays video and teleconferencing add a whole new layer of complication. “There’s no doubt that virtual meetings give us flexibility and global reach that creates all kinds of possibilities for collaboration,” says PowerSpeaking’s Chief Learning Officer, Carrie Beckstrom. “But like any technology, we have to learn to use it well. And when it comes to virtual meetings, that technical know-how must be in addition to the application of best practices that make any kind of meeting, in any setting, successful.&rdquo

Immediately after the recent U.S. Democratic debates, newspapers and social media ran commentaries observing how much more often the male candidates, vs. the female, interrupted other panelists and the moderators (especially on the first night). Because of those interruptions, the men commanded much more airtime over the course of the debates. The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Inc. Magazine were just a few media we read that took a closer look at that gender phenomenon. Then there was the Los Angeles Times, which didn’t mince words with this headline: “Democratic debates mirror life: Men yell and interrupt. Women (mostly) wait their turn.&rdquo

Minutes before political commentator Jon Stewart took his seat in front of the House Judiciary Committee to advocate for extending the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, 9/11 first responder John Feal took Jon’s prepared script away from him. Feal, who knew Stewart well because of their longtime activism on behalf of 9/11 first responders, had lost part of his left foot working as a demolition supervisor at Ground Zero. In the past 15 years Feal had organized more than 250 trips like this to D.C. to fight for continuing the fund. And here they were again. Feal wanted Stewart to do what he does best: speak from the heart.