Staying engaged in conference calls

- Despite the growth of popularity of video conferencing,…phone conferences are still here and still a popular way…of people communicating with each other.…The trick is, how can we stay focused…when we're just listening to voices on the phone…and how can we get the most out of these meetings?…Here are a few tips.…First of all, and this applies really to all meetings,…establish the expectations up front.…What is this meeting about and who needs to attend?…Often, people go to a meeting simply…because it was scheduled and then…they don't even know really why they're there.…

Second, make a commitment in your schedule…when you go to a phone conference.…Sometimes people look at it and say, well,…I'm just going to be on the phone, so I'm going to do something…in the background, I'm going to check my email or whatever.…Do not have multiple scheduled activities during this time.…We want to avoid multitasking and give the meeting…and the people there the respect they deserve.…Third, check the equipment that you have…and make sure that you have the correct equipment.…