Re: Having fun during Conference Calls
Linkat wrote:We have regular conference calls with another location. It seems that frequently when we have these calls, we put the phone on mute (in all fairness they do the same) when we are not talking or presenting. Also, frequently there are not so nice faces, comments sometimes made in regard to those speaking on the other end. Not anything too mean – usually in regard to how long these particular individuals talk – certain people do tend to go on and on about nothing. We seem to be a more concise group and want to get on with what is needed to discuss and then go on with our work.
I suppose they do the same to us. I kinda like having this setup – you can bring other work with you when you have long winded people and be productive and they don’t know what the heck you are doing.
What are your conference calls like? Do you do similar things or are you actually respectful of the other group? Also, what other things could we do to make this time more entertaining/useful?
Ours are generally done under extreme time pressure from both ends (they are discussions between child welfare staff, police, and sometimes our medical people and us as sort of guides to them) and they are decision making about how to proceed re allegations of child abuse.....
We DO try to make them very friendly and positive, though...but they are, by their nature, often quite tense, as you have a group of people working from different perspectives, and agencies with very different cultures, all of whom are grossly under resourced, coming together to make crucial decisions that can go badly wrong with tragic results, and often end up in a trial situation where decisions have to be defended and defensible.
Thus, sometimes the conflict is quite intense, but generally kept civilised. We DO use the mute button when we are waiting for something or someone, though...and certainly eyes can roll...doubtless on all ends.
We have little trouble with anyone raving on, there ain't no time!