New collaboration tools are forcing a shift in how we work, and how we communicate with colleagues and clients. Given the pervasive adoption of mobile devices, traditional meetings can be taken from the most non-traditional places (bathrooms and beaches included). InterCall, the world’s largest conferencing and collaboration provider, sifted through mobile call data and surveyed more than 500 full-time employees to get a stronger grasp of how mobile conferencing is changing day-to-day business, and what exactly people are up to during conference calls. It's time to face the (hold) music. Take a look at this presentation to not just learn about what people are doing during conference calls but ways to avoid meeting-induced productivity drains and the subsequent blow to your company's profits. You can make mobile conferencing more efficient, engaging and reliable, and we've got the tips and tools to help you do it.

1. Dialing In, Tuning Out
What Employees Really Do on
Conference Calls and
What You Can Do About It
InterCall
October 2014

2. Mobile Conferencing’s
Moment
New collaboration tools are forcing a shift in how
we work, and how we communicate with
colleagues and clients. Given the pervasive
adoption of mobile devices, traditional meetings
can be taken from the most non-traditional places
(bathrooms and beaches included).
Methodology
InterCall, the world’s largest conferencing and collaboration provider, sifted through mobile call
data and surveyed more than 500 full-time employees to get a stronger grasp of how mobile
conferencing is changing day-to-day business, and what exactly people are up to during
conference calls.

3. Mobile Meeting Usage on the Rise
As more employees begin using smartphones, tablets and phablets for work and
personal use, the incidence of mobile conferencing has followed suit.
Mobile’s inherent flexibility is
quickly making it the conferencing
medium of choice, with 64% of
employees preferring to take
conference calls via mobile
devices rather than a landline
2011
2013
Total mobile calls into
conferences were up 42%
over the last 2 years
2011 2013
+9%
Mobile accounted for
19.4% of all conferencing
minutes in 2011, compared
to 21.2% in 2013
+42%
+64%

4. How Much Flexibility Is Too Much?
The modern employee’s inclination to multitask and stay agile is further enabled by
mobile conferencing.
82% of InterCall survey
respondents admitted to
working on unrelated items
while on a conference call,
which is unsurprising, given
the array of places
employees have admitted to
taking calls from:
Closet during
a house party
Emergency
Room
In the middle
of the woods
Truck stop
bathroom
McDonald’s
Playplace
Behind a church
during a wedding
rehearsal
Disney World
®
®

5. The Top 10
Things People
Do During
Conference
Calls
65%
Do Other Work
1.
3.
2.
Send Emails
Eat or Make Food
4. 5.
Go to the Restroom
Text
63%
55%
47% 44%

6. 6.
9.
The Top 10
Things People
Do During
Conference
Calls
43%
Check Social Media
10.
8.
7.
25%
Play Video Games
21%
Shop Online
9% 6%
Exercise Take Another Call

7. Conference Call Confessions
In today’s always-on business, multitasking between emails and other work
responsibilities is hardly the most controversial aspect of conference call behavior.
Consider that:
39% 27% 5%
39% of employees have
quietly dropped off a call to
pretend they were still on
27% of employees have
fallen asleep during a
conference call
5% of employees had a friend
take a work conference call
in their place

8. Old Habits Die Hard,
But New Habits Are
Quicker to Kill
Don’t knock the technology, knock the process.
While a majority of employees admit to not giving
their full attention during conference calls, there
are a number of management and technology
solutions to combat false participation problems.

9. 5 Ways to Break Bad Call Behaviors
Eliminate end-user fumbling:
If participants have trouble dialing in to a
conference call, chances are they won’t
stay tuned in during it. Technology that
removes end-user hassle can set the
tone for a successful meeting from the
start.
Show invitation discretion:
If someone doesn’t truly need to be on a
call, don’t invite them. Only include the
most relevant stakeholders to the topic or
project at hand.
Pass the mic:
A simple way to keep participants active
during a call is through inclusion. Calling
on each person to speak or ask questions
in a conference encourages attentiveness
throughout.
Activity ≠ productivity:
Joining a meeting for the sake of looking
busy doesn’t equate to high-quality
business results. Company leaders must
promote a culture of true productivity and
involvement.
Appeal to multiple senses:
Audio alone may not be enough to hold
callers’ attention (especially when 65%
of people are visual learners).
Integrating video and other multimedia
content fosters a more engaging
conference experience for all.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

10. Curious About How to Make Mobile
Conferencing More Effective for
Your Business?
Visit us today at www.intercall.com to learn how we can
help your business experience more engaging, effective
mobile conferencing.
800.820.5855