Conference Call Etiquette
Discussion
That is, more or less, how the majority of the ones I end up on pan out. Especially the 'good progress' type comments!
The part I hate is when 3 of you are sat in an office talking to various other people worldwide and constantly interrupt each other without warning. It's rare that anything is actually accomplished, other than familiars talking about things they have already discussed and emailed internally, which you have already been privvy to.
The part I hate is when 3 of you are sat in an office talking to various other people worldwide and constantly interrupt each other without warning. It's rare that anything is actually accomplished, other than familiars talking about things they have already discussed and emailed internally, which you have already been privvy to.
t that was directed at me!"That blog was the experience of someone who either rarely uses conference calls, or is in an organisation that is crap at them. We use calls on a daily basis (so much so that most people have their own conference bridge lines) and if managed well they are so much more efficient than email storms and forcing multiple people to drive to another office just so a meeting can be held.
Yes, there are drawbacks with calls, the main one being a lack of eye contact, but they are not always that bad.
That said, the one I was on for a fault that occurred in a live service - the one that lasted 16 hours, with people dialling off and back on as the situation developed, that one was a bit of a challenge.
Yes, there are drawbacks with calls, the main one being a lack of eye contact, but they are not always that bad.
That said, the one I was on for a fault that occurred in a live service - the one that lasted 16 hours, with people dialling off and back on as the situation developed, that one was a bit of a challenge.
aclivity said:
That blog was the experience of someone who either rarely uses conference calls, or is in an organisation that is crap at them. We use calls on a daily basis (so much so that most people have their own conference bridge lines) and if managed well they are so much more efficient than email storms and forcing multiple people to drive to another office just so a meeting can be held.
Yes, there are drawbacks with calls, the main one being a lack of eye contact, but they are not always that bad.
That said, the one I was on for a fault that occurred in a live service - the one that lasted 16 hours, with people dialling off and back on as the situation developed, that one was a bit of a challenge.
Your Alpha Male 1 arent you? Yes, there are drawbacks with calls, the main one being a lack of eye contact, but they are not always that bad.
That said, the one I was on for a fault that occurred in a live service - the one that lasted 16 hours, with people dialling off and back on as the situation developed, that one was a bit of a challenge.
Conference calls are what managers do to cover their arse while real people get on with the work in hand.
KrazyIvan said:
aclivity said:
That blog was the experience of someone who either rarely uses conference calls, or is in an organisation that is crap at them. We use calls on a daily basis (so much so that most people have their own conference bridge lines) and if managed well they are so much more efficient than email storms and forcing multiple people to drive to another office just so a meeting can be held.
Yes, there are drawbacks with calls, the main one being a lack of eye contact, but they are not always that bad.
That said, the one I was on for a fault that occurred in a live service - the one that lasted 16 hours, with people dialling off and back on as the situation developed, that one was a bit of a challenge.
Your Alpha Male 1 arent you? Yes, there are drawbacks with calls, the main one being a lack of eye contact, but they are not always that bad.
That said, the one I was on for a fault that occurred in a live service - the one that lasted 16 hours, with people dialling off and back on as the situation developed, that one was a bit of a challenge.
Conference calls are what managers do to cover their arse while real people get on with the work in hand.
TuxRacer said:
KrazyIvan said:
aclivity said:
That blog was the experience of someone who either rarely uses conference calls, or is in an organisation that is crap at them. We use calls on a daily basis (so much so that most people have their own conference bridge lines) and if managed well they are so much more efficient than email storms and forcing multiple people to drive to another office just so a meeting can be held.
Yes, there are drawbacks with calls, the main one being a lack of eye contact, but they are not always that bad.
That said, the one I was on for a fault that occurred in a live service - the one that lasted 16 hours, with people dialling off and back on as the situation developed, that one was a bit of a challenge.
Your Alpha Male 1 arent you? Yes, there are drawbacks with calls, the main one being a lack of eye contact, but they are not always that bad.
That said, the one I was on for a fault that occurred in a live service - the one that lasted 16 hours, with people dialling off and back on as the situation developed, that one was a bit of a challenge.
Conference calls are what managers do to cover their arse while real people get on with the work in hand.
I like the heavy breathers that you get and dont realise its them...
Last time we had to stop the call for a minute or 2 from giggling when over the heavy breathing came a voice stating:
'Would the heavy breather please like to desist and stop giving us impressions of their after work activity... '
and another in the style of one of those numbered boat things:
'Heavy breather... Heavy breather, please press mute!! you time is up and we would like to continue the meeting...'
But even after these 2 incidents the person keeps coming back for more and we have had to get everyone on mute now!! One day we are going to work out who it is...
Last time we had to stop the call for a minute or 2 from giggling when over the heavy breathing came a voice stating:
'Would the heavy breather please like to desist and stop giving us impressions of their after work activity... '
and another in the style of one of those numbered boat things:
'Heavy breather... Heavy breather, please press mute!! you time is up and we would like to continue the meeting...'
But even after these 2 incidents the person keeps coming back for more and we have had to get everyone on mute now!! One day we are going to work out who it is...
My con calls are generally of two types: the weekly "steering committee" call and hte emergency "everyone get on the phone" call.
The former type can be overlong and very dull. The second can be tense. Discussing a difficult issue in a meeting is very different from doing it on a call, becasue you can't see faces or even know exactly who is on the line.
The former type can be overlong and very dull. The second can be tense. Discussing a difficult issue in a meeting is very different from doing it on a call, becasue you can't see faces or even know exactly who is on the line.
We did have one memorable conference call that included the local (to one caller) constabulary. The idiot had dialled in from his mobile, being aware of the dangers whilst using the phone and driving, he had stopped at the side of the road...
... It was the M3. He had pulled up on the hard shoulder to make a call. We all listened in as there was a knocking of a leather glove on the window, and a slightly peeved voice (of the motorbike policeman) asking if everything was OK. just as it got interesting, he realised his phone was still active and hung up.
Another call was interrupted by some children laughing. One of the guys on the call was claiming to be working from home, but was in fact in his car, with the kids, driving to the seaside. "I can see the sea" is a dead giveaway. He got a reprimand for that.
... It was the M3. He had pulled up on the hard shoulder to make a call. We all listened in as there was a knocking of a leather glove on the window, and a slightly peeved voice (of the motorbike policeman) asking if everything was OK. just as it got interesting, he realised his phone was still active and hung up.
Another call was interrupted by some children laughing. One of the guys on the call was claiming to be working from home, but was in fact in his car, with the kids, driving to the seaside. "I can see the sea" is a dead giveaway. He got a reprimand for that.
Mr Darcy said:
I used to always start talking with mute button on. I do this alot.
Not as good as forgetting you on a con call, and start dialing a number of the person in the e-mail you were reading insted of paying attention........not that I have ever done that.Nor have I ever reminded a client that their paying a lot of money for my time, so perhaps this call is not the best place to discuss the christmas part location while we all wait for "aplha male 1"
As a side note, also in IT, so all con calls are the "oh crap everything has gone wrong and we need to work out who is going to take the blame" type
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff