Knowledge of correct etiquette is essential for survival in the business world. No matter what your business is, managing it can be tricky. One essential requirement of management is the ability to handle conference calls correctly, effectively, and with grace.

Image is everything in business. It was possible in the past to maintain good relationships with your clients by a traditional meeting involving face-to-face interaction. However, everything has changed due to rapid technological developments in the past few decades. Instead of a customer base of your area, you have to reach new customers based far away. You will often have to hold video conferences to reach them effectively.

This sort of virtual meeting is also referred as a teleconference. Teleconferences are needed when multiple groups of people from all over join each other through a video connection. The dynamics of such a virtual meeting are, more or less, similar to traditional sessions. In both cases, the group of people discuss problems and exchange ideas directly and are able to see each other.

Conference calls are enough like other, older means of communication to be governed by most of the same rules. Do not speak while another participant in the call is speaking, because a brief “time lag” tends to be present due to unavoidable technological limits. Thus, you should make certain that other participants are done speaking when you begin to talk.

You should also follow other traditional rules of decorum. Do not chew gum, which can be viewed as disrespectful. You should also avoid eating or drinking. These activities might be part of conventional interaction, but due to differences in cultural norms and time zones, you should know that your colleagues may not expect this behavior.

“Appearance is everything” is more than just a slogan, it’s a vital part of the etiquette of video teleconferencing. Business associates across the globe will probably never meet you in person, so the only impression they will have about you will be based almost solely on the “you” they see during a conference call. It’s not enough to just be well groomed. Extreme styles and colors can be distorted by the teleconferencing equipment, so subdued and classic may be a better fashion choice than hip and cutting edge.

As a general rule, remember that conference call etiquette is generally the same as using good, common sense. Always be respectful of your colleagues. Remember that they may have different cultural expectations than you, and understand how your behavior might be interpreted differently. When you act appropriately and respectfully, you’re sure to win your customers’ confidence – and their business!

About Author

Daiv Russell

Daiv Russell is a management and marketing consultant with Envision Consulting in Tampa, Florida. To learn more about teleconference etiquette, check out audio-conference-calling.info. While organizing your team check out our Team Building activities.