Would you like to make better conference calls? This quick guide to conference calling etiquette will help you on your next conference call.

1. Be At Your Best on Your
Next Conference Call
Brandon Munro and Gihan Perera
www.BetterConferenceCalls.com

2. Do you work in
an organisation?
Do you make
conference calls?
Would you like to
be better at them?

3. Then this presentation
is for you!
The Ten Best Practice Techniques
for Conference Call Etiquette

4. 1. Find a quiet environment.
1. Find a quiet environment.
• Shut the door
• Oil the squeaky chair
• Turn off noisy appliances
• Don’t stay in an open plan office
• Be aware of kids and pets
• Use a land line, not mobile/cell
• Turn off other phones
• Turn off audio on your computer

5. 2. Keep to time.
2. Keep to time.
Call in a few minutes
before the scheduled
start.
Start on time, even if
everybody isn’t there.
Finish on time.

6. 3. Use names: Yours and theirs.
3. Use names: Yours and theirs.
Announce yourself when you join the call.
Don’t let in uninvited participants.
Ask for permission before inviting your
assistants or colleagues to the call.
Identify yourself before speaking or answering
questions.
Address people by name when you ask them a
question.

7. 4. Wait for the call to start.
4. Wait for the call to start.
Don’t socialise or start
talking about the content of
the call.
Let the other “early birds”
make the most of the time
before the call formally
starts.

8. 5. Be polite.
5. Be polite.
Don’t speak over
people, interrupt, make
sarcastic comments,
make side comments or
make personal attacks
on people.
Pause frequently to
allow for comments or
questions.

9. 6. Use mute when not speaking.
6. Use mute when not speaking.
Mute your phone when
you are not speaking to
eliminate background
noise and improve call
quality.

10. 7. Remove audible distractions.
7. Remove audible distractions.
Avoid pencil tapping,
humming, sighing, paper
shuffling, smacking lips, etc.
Don’t eat during the call.
Turn off call waiting and don’t
put a call on hold.

11. 8. Avoid multi-tasking.
8. Avoid multi-tasking.
Turn off e-mail, mobile/cell
phones, etc and give your
full attention to the call. If
multi-tasking is essential
then ensure it is muted.

12. 9. Stay on track.
9. Stay on track. Don’t conduct side
conversations just
because the person
you need to talk to
is on the call.

13. 10. Respect their time.
10. Respect their time.
Present information clearly and in
a structured way.
Do not talk unnecessarily or allow
the call to stray off topic.
Don’t give detailed reasoning
where a simple answer will suffice.
Be succinct.

14. Of course, good etiquette is
most effective when practised
by EVERYONE! Download our
FREE Conference Call
Etiquette Guide to share with
participants before the call.
www.BetterConferenceCalls.com

15. Want to know more?
Our e-book “Best Practice
Conference Calls” teaches
you everything to know to
be at your best on your next
conference call.
Visit our Web site now for
instant access.
www.BetterConferenceCalls.com