You Might Be a Conference Call Etiquette Offender If

You Might Be a Conference Call Etiquette Offender If You Might Be a Conference Call Etiquette Offender If Most of us participate in meetings via the phone at work all the time, but that doesnt mean everyones got conference call etiquette down pat. Are you making these mistakes? You may think you can get away with bad behavior on conference calls because no one can see you, but Im here to set things straight.Here are some signs you might be a conference call etiquette offenderThe host is already on slide 5 of the deck when you arrive. On many conference call systems, you hear a beep when someone joins. Its amazing how distracting that little sound can be to participants. Plus, if youre in the middle of talking, it can throw you off your train of thought. The moral of the story? Just dial in on time. Everyone can hear your dog Marty barking. People dont want to get an earful of whats going on around you, whether its the barista frothing milk on your cappuccino or your cubemates gossipi ng. And then there are those loud/heavy breathers among us that always make things awkward. The mute button is your friend. Youre eating a sandwich with one hand and checking email with the other. Normally Id commend you for your agility, but multitasking rarely works on conference calls. To fully participate in the conversation, eliminate all potential distractions. Theres nothing worse than being called on and having no idea what someones talking about because you were busier focusing on your cold cuts than the discussion.Youre talking, but no one can hear you. Usually this happens when you forget to unmute yourself, but sound issues can also occur when youre on a cell phone with spotty reception. Another of my favorites is the person who somehow brings an echo into the conversation when using their speaker or forgetting to turn off the sound on their computer.You put the call on hold and prompt elevator music. Many phone systems are set up to play music when a line is put on hold . bedrngnis only is it hard for conference call attendees to talk over a Kenny G song, but youll really have to face the music when they figure out youre the culprit.You wont let anyone get a word in edgewise. Its great if youve got tons of ideas you want to share, but dont make it the insert your name here show. Leave room for others to weigh in. According to an OfficeTeam survey, workers said multiple people talking at the same time is the most distracting thing on conference calls. Since sometimes there are audio delays on the phone, pause a second before speaking so you dont interrupt anyone. No one even knows youre on the line. Introduce yourself when joining a call and also when speaking. Otherwise, if they havent heard from you the whole time, everyone will be a little startled if you suddenly chime in.Everything you have to say is totally irrelevant. Dont be that guy or girl who talks just for the sake of talking. Going off on tangents wastes valuable time and raises eyebrow s. Keep your comments on targetCheck out the videos below to see how conference call etiquette mistakes can look in real life.Whats the most annoying behavior youve ever experienced on a conference call?Related Articles7 Tips for Running Effective MeetingsSmile, Youre On Camera 7 Tips for Mastering Video Conference Etiquette