Audio conferencing might seem way more simple and straightforward than video conferencing, but there are still quite a few potential pitfalls hiding in the all-audio realm. In fact, there are ways in which an audio conference can be an even more delicate situation than a video meet-up. So how about a little refresher course in audio etiquette?
Don’t Be Late
This is the golden rule for every gathering, no matter the technology mediating it. But a late arrival can be especially jarring in an audio conference. There’s just something unsettling about a new voice suddenly appearing in a conversation that’s already well underway. Don’t be that guy who waltzes into the conference fifteen minutes late and needs to be brought up to speed on stuff that was already covered. You’d be embarrassed to do this in person. You should be just as embarrassed to do this over the phone.
Kill the Noise
Audio quality is certainly important in a video conference, but sound hiccups can be partially compensated for by visuals--moving mouths, shared content, body language--that do a good deal of the talking. You’re going to live and die by sound quality in an audio conference, so you should be extra vigilant while doing your pre-conference sweep of distracting ambient noise. Turn off your fans, copy machines, radios. Make sure your cell phone is set to silent. Put your dog in the yard for a while. Tell the kids to keep it down. Errant sounds are disruptive in video conferences, but like the late guy mentioned above, they are especially annoying when they come out of nowhere without a visual referent.
Elect a Moderator
Crosstalk is a serious problem in audio conferences. Without visual cues, it’s way too easy to step on someone else’s words, thereby creating a mess of indecipherable sound. A designated moderator can eliminate such awkwardness by making sure people get added to the conversation one person at a time. The moderator should also have an agenda on hand to keep the call from straying too far from the key talking points.
Announce Yourself
Everyone present should identify themselves at the beginning of an audio conference, but during conferences of more than a few people, attendees should also state their names every time they speak. It’s otherwise pretty impossible to tell who is saying what. It might feel a little strange, but everyone should know who is speaking when.
The Mute Button Is Your Friend
If you’re not speaking, better to be safe than sorry: mute your line. This will eliminate the possibility of any stray sound finding its way into the conference. And then you can cough freely. Or yell at your dog. Do what you will! You’re on mute!
Integrate Visuals
Yes, it’s an audio conference, but you can still incorporate visuals for purposes of clarity. Or, at the very least, to keep everyone’s attention. You can do this by sharing content via something like Prime Call Cloud MeetMe. Or you can send a preliminary email with a printable agenda and essential documents.
Explore our range of audio conferencing solutions here.
