How To Run A Conference Call Without Driving Everyone Else Crazy

How To Run A Conference Call Without Driving Everyone Else Crazy Conference calls are a fact of life in a distributed team environment, Robert Duffy VP of Engineering at Time Inc. talks to PowerToFly about how to survive them.With a team distributed across three continents, we make heavy use of audio and video conferencing, its part of the daily rhythm of business. In any meeting that requires a group of people gathering you want to make sure that things go smoothly, and that the least amount of time is spent messing with technology or running the meeting. Conference calls are no exception and there are a couple of things you can do to help.Equipment iskey.Buy the best audio equipment you can afford. Conference calls are about audio and the difference it makes being on a good line vs a bad line is well worth the extra spend. If you are hard to hear it can lose you business or credibility. There is nothing mora frustrating than someone on a conference call that sounds like they are ta lking to you from the inside of a potato. If you are calling from a cell phone the biggest difference you can make is just using the manufacturers supplied headphones that have a mic built in.Trial Run New Technology.Always do a dry run of new technology before your calls. You dont want to start using something and have it not work. If you are switching any piece of technology like a new phone, new headtischset or new conference line, get with a friend or colleague before your calls and try it out. Its important to find out how you sound using the new equipment, so compare it to the old equipment. Weve found that different voices work better on different devices, so even if a piece of technology is working for one person it might not work for others.Speak up, and stay close to speaker phones.Only use the speaker-phone on your cell phone as a last resort. Its hard to listen to in a group setting and the microphone doesnt plektrum up nearly as much of the conversation as you think it does. If you are going to be on conference calls frequently invest in some of the polycom gear, its really good.Call EtiquetteKnow Who is DrivingIf your conference calls are anything like mine, you have a short time to get a lot done. Its important to quickly identify who is driving the call and who will keep people on track. The leader should tell everyone what is going to happen, the call should happen and then the leader summarizes the actions.If you are the leader, be early and take roll call. Know in advance who needs to be on the call to get the outcome you need. Wait for a quorum but then know you can get started early. If you have enough people on the call, ask someone to chase late-comers down while you make small talk.Always summarize the next steps on the call and in a follow up email and make sure every action has an owner.Have Your Intro Nailed.Most conference calls with new people meeting each other start with a round of intros. Have a quick (less than 30s) intro in yo ur back pocket and youll be prepared for this if it comes up. Keep your intro short and tailor it to the audience and project. I always like to let people know why Im interested in the meeting and what Im looking for.Stay on mute, until you dont need to.Remember to place yourself on mute. There is nothing worse that trying to listen to someone speak while some other caller is typing, driving or trying to eat lunch. If someone else doesnt mute and disrupts the call, its perfectly OK to say can everyone go on mute when they are not talking. Remember to take yourself off mute and dont disrupt the flow of the call by fumbling for the unmute button.Learn how to Interrupt, Let Others Interrupt You.Interrupting in person is a bad thing, on the phone its a necessity because you can not always read the other persons body languages. If you are speaking pause often enough for questions so people can ask them.Beware of group questions.As a rule of thumb dont ask group questions when there are m ore than 5 people. Group questions, that require a round robin response are difficult to coordinate. If you do want to do this, pay attention at roll-call and ask specific people questions rather than is everyone OK with that plan, how is everyone doing this morning, etc.Smile, Even When Not On CameraIf you are on an audio-only call its even more important to smile. Smiling has a surprisingly large impact in the way you speak. Get in the habit of smiling on the phone, even when you are off camera, havent had coffee and its 5am. Others on the call will subconsciously hear the difference and perceive you as being friendly and collaborative.Dont be Afraid to AskAlways ask people to speak up, stop having side conversations or stop typing. I once asked a group of executives to spend the next 30 seconds clearing their lunch rather than have the call be disrupted by people shuffling sandwiches and chip bags. Dont be afraid to ask people to stop doing something or start doing something else ??of course do it politely with a smile on your face.Make Notes of Questions You HaveCross them off if they are answered so you dont repeat questions. The odds are high that other people listening on the call will have the same questions as you.And as always, have fun One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hir ed a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help d rive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or hi gher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.

Career Strategies When Youre Between Jobs

Career Strategies When Youre Between JobsCareer Strategies When Youre Between JobsCareer Strategies When Youre Between JobsCareer strategies to keep your career moving forward between jobs, even if your job search is put on hold.While most career experts warn professionals to think twice before taking a break between jobs, there are many job seekers who take some time off before starting their job search in earnest. These people usually fall into one of these categories(1) Recent college graduates who decide to take one belastung summer or winter break off before they enter the real world(2) Experienced professionals who feel the need to take some time off after leaving or getting laid off from a stressful work environment(3) Professionals who are facing a crisis in another part of their lives and feel compelled to leave their job while they handle the matter, with no designs of finding another position right away and(4) Unemployed professionals who were searching for a new job for a while, to no avail, and decide they need a break from the stress of the job search.If youve decided to put your job search on hold for awhile, it may be tempting to forget about your career altogether during that period. Resist that urge Its in your best interest to take small steps during your sabbatical from the job search to keep your career moving in the right direction.Work on your personal brandUse this time to work on the different pieces of your personal brand, such as your professional resume and cover letter and your online presence. Submit your resume for a free review so you get a handle on how much time youll need to dedicate to getting your resume in good shape before your job search. Also, run a Google search on your name, as it appears on your resume, to see what information employers will find when they search for you.If you have any personal social media accounts you dont want employers to associate with your candidacy, nows the time to increase the security setti ngs and change the usernames to a nickname so youre confident your private accounts are well-hidden from recruiters.Click on the following link to download my free personal branding checklist.Turn parties into networking goldminesYou dont have to attend formal business networking events and industry conferences to build a valuable network of connections. While youre officially out of the job search, take advantage of your social activities to work on your networking skills. Remember, every block party, wedding reception, and holiday get-together is a networking opportunity in the making.Use these events to practice delivering your elevator pitch and connect with new people. You never know, the guy dating your sisters best friend could be the key to landing your new job position in the future. You may not be in an active job-search mode right now, but that doesnt mean you shouldnt lay the groundwork for informational interviews down the road.RelatedHow to Turn Holiday Parties into Ne tworking GoldminesLearn a new job skillWhen you find yourself back in the job market, employers will want to know what you were doing with your time between jobs. Thats why its in your best interest to find ways to sharpen your current job skills or learn something new. For instance, you may decide to volunteer for an organization that is near and dear to your heart and allows you to leverage your soft and hard skills. You can find these skill-based volunteer opportunities on sites like Catchafire.Even if youre planning the ultimate post-college vacation, you can still brush up on a skill through a self-paced online course offered on platforms like Skillshare, Udemy, and Lynda.com, or pick up one of these highly-recommended career development books to read during your travels.Get a jobYes, I know. If youre reading this article, its because you already decided to pause your job search for the time being. I get it. However, theres a difference between pursuing a job thats important fo r your long-term career path and landing a short-term gig that will provide some income while your career is on cruise control.For a recent college grad, it may mean going back to that sweet lifeguarding gig youve had for the past few summer breaks or some other temporary job that isnt related to your career goals. For other professionals, it may translate to a volunteer position or a freelance opportunity.In an ideal world, your position would still help you gain relevant industry experience or build skills that are considered important for the next role you pursue in your career. Regardless, its easier to explain to employers what youve been doing during your time between jobs when you can show youve been working, even if its not relevant to your current job search.Recharge your batteriesIf youre going to take some time off, make sure youre getting the RR you need. Take time during this break to relax, get plenty of rest, and indulge in some pampering so youre reenergized when its time to get back into the job market.Take these little steps while your job search is on hold and youll be sure to keep your career on track while between jobs.And, when youre ready to jumpstart your job search again, download my free job-search action plan to get started. Click on the following link for more job-search advice.Want to see how your resume stacks up? Request a free review todayRecommended ReadingHow Does Money Come in During a Career Change?How to Get in the Right Mindset for the Remote Job SearchUnemployment Guide 9 Ways to Make the Most of It