To ensure successful conference calls, there are three things participants should avoid: 1) Multitasking, as it leads to drops in productivity and IQ. Participants should focus solely on the meeting. 2) Forgetting to mute oneself, as it can allow interruptions like barking dogs or eating chips to disrupt the call. 3) Coming unprepared, which risks falling behind or awkward interruptions, especially without visual cues over audio-only calls. Preparing ensures positive contributions.

2. To ensure that your next conference call isn't
a complete disaster, check out these three
things you (and your colleagues) should never
do on a conference call.
Etiquette is crucial in all aspects of life,
but it's especially important on
conference calls. From airport departure
calls to ruffling chip bags, the slightest
distraction can derail a meeting.

3. D O N ' T : M U L T I T A S K
I T L E A D S T O A
(Bergman, 2010)
drop
in
productivity
& drop IQin&
If you’re in a meeting, be in the meeting mentally. Put away the social
media, quit browsing on Amazon and get focused.
Your colleagues – and your sense of professional pride –
will thank you.

4. D O N ' T :
F O R G E T
A B O U T M U T E
We've all been on a conference call that
was interrupted by a barking dog, an
ambulance wailing or someone chowing
down on a bag of chips. Not only is it
totally unprofessional to interrupt a
meeting, but it can also absolutely be
avoided. Far too often people forget
about the mute button. Remember this
trusty feature the next time you're on a
conference call.

5. D O N ' T : C O M E
U N P R E P A R E D
It really should go without saying--don't
come to ANY meeting unprepared. But
what makes a conference call different?
When on an audio-only call, you have the
disadvantage of not being able to see
cues on when it's okay to jump in and ask
questions about what's going on. To
avoid falling behind and risking awkward
interruptions, come prepared so you can
positively contribute to your meeting.

6. For tips about how to take make your next
conference call a success, visit our blog:
blog.pgi.com.