We all know that two’s a company, three’s a crowd – and anything beyond that has potential for confusion and interruptions, especially when it comes to a conference call.

Many of us have taken part in a conference call, whether it’s for a meeting, presentation, or just a casual conversation among colleagues. Luckily, conferencing solutions provider Eagle Conferencing brings new and innovative ways to the table for today's competitive business environments and organizations to get the most of their meetings. So, before your next conferencing experience, read up on the latest tips provided by InterCall (News - Alert) University to get the most of your meetings, as well as how Eagle Conferencing can help you and your colleagues avoid potential issues before your meeting begins.

Check Your Equipment: First and foremost, make sure the phone you are using, as well as its speakerphone capabilities, are in check. Nothing is more annoying than having to ask your correspondents to repeat themselves because your equipment isn’t up to par. Eagle Conferencing offers forward-thinking conferencing solutions that guarantee quality and remarkable clarity. 

Wait Your Turn: It’s never nice to not give others a chance to speak, so while on a conference call, make sure you, or a colleague, aren’t dominating the conversation. It is pertinent to manage ongoing dialogue so those involved get a chance to present their information in an environment that both presenters and listeners can exist in cooperation. InterCall University suggests asking the rambling presenter during a pause in conversation to continue the dialogue offline following the conference call. Fortunately, Eagle Conferencing does offer competitive rates, complete with no hidden costs and reservation-less calls, to allow leeway for those presentations that do go over-time.

Be Respectful: Conference calls are a bit difficult, especially when it comes to large groups, because you don’t actually see the other people on the other end of the line (unless you have telepresence capabilities, of course). In the case of a simple conference call, participants should be aware of allotting enough time for a presenter to speak before responding. In addition, when questions are asked, the audience should have enough time to think of a response. Eagle Conferencing equips conference call users with solutions that ensure uninterrupted announcements, as well as a lecture mode to maintain control over conversations. This comes in use for online classes in particular, as Eagle Conferencing offers a Continuing Education solution that offers attendance tracking; dial-in access to students in any location; limited background noise with individual line muting; and interactive question-and-answer sessions.

Stay On Topic: It’s quite the challenge to not stray from the agenda, so conference call attendees should always have an agenda on hand prior to every meeting. Therefore, if conversation does happen to drift, the presenter can refocus by referencing the agenda. InterCall University suggests sending out the agenda before the meeting begins.

Be On Time – Always!: To avoid an unprofessional move by leaving your audience waiting, make it a routine to arrive a few minutes before the presentation begins. This gives you room to prepare your notes and make sure everyone involved is ready for the conference call. Even though Eagle Conferencing offers affordable services with no end time, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be on time to your meeting!

Tammy Wolf is a TMCnet copy editor. Previously she was assistant to the editor at The Darien Times, a weekly newspaper in Darien, Conn., where she edited submissions, did page layout and design and helped manage the newspaper's website. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jaclyn Allard