Business Conferencing Solutions Blog

Lady Gaga ring tones to the guy who talks with a mouthful of snack food, “etiquette impairment” is common during face-to-face meetings—it’s even more common during teleconferences, when even typically polite employees might not know what’s expected.

So how are we supposed to act during a conference call? The answer is, quite simply, do all the things your momma told you to do. Check out these guidelines for making your teleconferencing experience a well-mannered one.

• Introduce yourself and the rest of the team as a matter of courtesy. In addition, cut down on in-call confusion by saying your name before you speak, such as “This is James” or “Nandini here.” After all, if you have trouble telling your own kids apart on the phone, you can’t expect the party on the other end of a conference call to recognize your team’s voices.

• Be patient. When there’s a slow talker on the other end it can try the patience of the most serene team member. Remember, teleconferences can’t convey the nonverbal skills that provide important clues, such as the shifting, rustling audience that indicates, “It might be time for me to stop talking.” Allow the other person to finish his or her thoughts or find a tactful way to redirect the conversation.

• Use legible documents. If you’re sharing documents, check them out before hand to make sure those on the other end can read them. Fuzzy documents are time-wasters, and sending them might be viewed as inconsiderate.

• Don’t multi-task. Resist the urge to check in with the warehouse manager—or check the playoff scores—by turning cell phones, PDAs and other devices to silent. It will help you focus on the task at hand, and that just might make the call go a little bit faster.

• Manners, please. Use the same manners you would if you were meeting face-to-face. That means don’t mumble, don’t interrupt, and don’t talk with your mouth full.

Spread the word by sharing a list of etiquette do’s and don’ts before the meeting. You can also extend a courtesy to the party on the other end by providing contact information for conference call customer support or cheat sheets that provide steps for what to do if the call is disconnected.

When you and your team are courteous and polite during a conference call, it won’t just make your mom happy, it might make the meeting more productive, and, in turn, more profitable—and who doesn’t want that?

Get a full list of web conferencing and conference call etiquette tips at OfficeArrow or check out conference call guidelines from RollCall.