Etiquette: A Crucial Element to Video Conference Success
In the world of business, it is crucial to have socially acceptable manners and to implement conventional rules of politeness. Successfully managing a business can be a complex task. The awareness of conference call etiquette would compliment the skill set for the working professional.
Businesses must maintain a good image. In the past, businesses were limited to a customer database that only covered local areas. And face-to-face interaction was a necessary means to maintain good customer relations. With the rapid progress of technology over the past few decades, customer databases have expanded to reach around the world and video conferencing has been an effective approach to replacing the traditional meeting without sacrificing good customer relations.
This type of virtual meeting where you do not see your client face-to-face is called a teleconference. A video connection links multiple groups of people, each far from one another. This is almost identical to the traditional way, with the only difference being that you do not meet them personally. Here, both groups talk about their problems and swap ideas in real time and they can also see one another through the video connection.
In a way, conference calls are like older forms of communication. Many rules are the same. You should never interrupt when a colleague is speaking. It is one of the appropriate rules of conference call etiquette. This is a very relevant consideration that has to be kept in mind. Due to the limitations of technology, there can be a short time lag between conversations. If you keep that in mind, you will know to make sure that your colleague has finished speaking prior to starting your part.
Remember that the rules of general etiquette always apply. Chewing gum, eating and drinking should be avoided, because not only can these activities cause disagreeable noises, they also may come as unpleasant surprise to your colleagues who might experience your behavior in a different light due to varying cultural norms and time zones.
Because co-workers on the conference call are receiving a literal picture of you, it is very important to dress appropriately. Your appearance is more important in a video conference call than in a face-to-face meeting because physical interactions will not be possible. Avoid garish or overly colorful patterns that can be distorted by video equipment; keep your outfit neat and along classic lines.
To win customer's confidence, and thus their business, one must act appropriately and respectfully. To do that, one must adhere to one general rule, which is to remember that conference call etiquette is equivalent to using good, common sense. One's colleagues should always be respected. Also it should be understood that they might have different cultural expectations vis-a-vis one's own and thus some of the behaviors can be interpreted differently unknowingly.
About the Author: Daiv Russell is a marketing and management consultant with Envision Consulting in Tampa, Florida. To learn more about conference call etiquette, check out audio-conference-calling.info. While organizing your team check out our Team Building activities.
More articles by Daiv Russell
Print Article | Download PDF | 66 views | Feb 13 2008
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