Speaking effectively during meetings is a great way to boost your reputation and your career. Every time you speak, your contribution increases your visibility and becomes a measure of the value and expertise that you add to your organization. But making an impact on a conference is more difficult because the words you choose and how you say them are really the only way to stand out from others.
Etiquette
Below is a list of basic conference call etiquette. Follow it, and you will demonstrate respect for your fellow participants:
- Be prepared and being ready to contribute
- Master the technology: familiarize yourself with the setup and how the system works
- Dial in on time
- Take the call in a quiet location
- Use the mute button when taking notes on a keyboard
- Introduce yourself before you speak
- Listen and pay attention when others are speaking
- Do not interrupt or speak over participants
- No gum, no chewing food, no sipping
How to be effective
But you'll need to step it up a notch on conference calls to make an impact. Body language plays a major part in our communication; it's not just how you said something, but also your facial expressions and body posture. This is lost during a phone conversation. The very nature of a conference call is simply not conducive to people asking for clarification because it's much harder to raise your hand or raise and eyebrow on a call. Not to mention that conference calls give people the ability to sit in the corner and basically turn their back on the call - something that is not possible to do when you are meeting in person. (At least, I hope not.)
To be effective on a conference call:
- Speak even more clearly and concisely than you normally do in person
- Speak directly into your phone, don't use the hands-free/speaker option
- Use vocal variation, don't be afraid to a pause, remember to breathe
- Raise your voice a notch or two and vary your pace and tone
- Use stories to explain your point and keep it interesting
- Stick to the agenda
- Make a contribution to help build your professional brand
- Ask for feedback from specific participants instead of the entire group
Bring your passion and enthusiasm to every conference call and remember: it's how you make someone feel that stays with them long after the words are forgotten. Ty Boyd, Inc. can help you make an impact.
If you’re looking for more ways to improve your communication skills contact Ty Boyd, Inc. today.
About Ty Boyd, Inc.
Ty Boyd, Inc. is an Executive Communications & Coaching business that has helped professionals worldwide reach their career goals for more than thirty years.
Our faculty is comprised of experts in the fields of public speaking, business communications and individual coaching.
We offer a variety of courses suited to meet the needs of all levels of career professionals. Ty Boyd, Inc. also creates custom courses for corporations, designed to align with each company’s business culture and objectives. You can expect immediate returns when you and your company invest in a Ty Boyd, Inc. course or coaching session. Take the lead with Ty Boyd, Inc.
Contact us to learn more about how we can help you, your employees or company. info@tyboyd.com or 1.704.333.9999