Teleconferencing is a great way to communicate with people who are not in the same location as you. This can be especially helpful if your business has employees working remotely or if you work for an organization that spans multiple locations.

However, many people have trouble getting their points across during teleconferencing because they don't know how to use communication skills effectively. Today, we will discuss three ways to improve your communication skills so that teleconferences go more smoothly and increase the benefits of using this tool for your business.

Learn to Speak Clearly

Suppose you want to make a point while on the phone, then you must speak clearly. This can often be difficult because people are not used to speaking without seeing their audience's reaction. However, if you learn how to speak up and use proper diction, this will help your listener better understand what you are saying. To achieve clarity in your speech, here are some valuable tips:

· Start by stating the most important facts to allow your ideas to flow

· Leave out any unnecessary information

· Focus on the topic to avoid mixing up ideas

· Ask a friend to listen while you practice speaking to know what needs changing.

Have Confidence

Confidence goes a long way in improving communication skills. You need to sound confident and ensure that you are speaking clearly as well. It will make the listener more likely to believe what you have to say. Stand up straight when on the phone so that your voice is projected better. Confidence also shows that you are knowledgeable on the discussion topic.

Listen Carefully When Someone is Speaking

It is important to listen carefully when someone else is speaking on the phone. To do this, you need to try not only focusing but actively listening by asking questions and taking notes as necessary. Listening skills are important for a teleconference to allow open communication. Besides, you may not answer questions accurately when you are unsure of what was said.

Mind Your Tone

The tone in communication refers to how a speaker talks to their listener. When you are the speaker, it is important to be attentive and mindful of your tone during conference calls. Using the correct tone means that your listeners will not misinterpret your message. If you want to communicate effectively, having a positive tone is a good place to start. Other tone examples include:

· serious

· humorous

· angry

· excited

· arrogant

· confident

To find the appropriate tone for your message, you need to know your purpose for communicating-are you congratulating someone for their achievement? The type of recipient will also determine the tone. For instance, the tone to address your peers is not the same tone you use with your bosses.

Be Aware of What You Say

It is important to be mindful of your words and how they are perceived. For example, slang can sometimes come across as disrespectful, especially if your tone implies sarcasm or a lack of awareness. In addition, you need to check your message for facts before holding a conference call. People have many resources to facilitate fact-checking, and it would be a shame to say something only to be proven wrong by your listener.

Avoid Interrupting Others When Speaking

To allow the speaker to express their thoughts fully, avoid interrupting, either with your own words or by making noises such as sighs and grumbles. It isn't polite and will discourage your listeners from participating in the challenge.

One way to allow your listeners to speak their minds is by adopting an open mind. While you might not agree with what they have to say, they do have a right to say it. So do not stifle criticism but listen and dig deeper to find meaning. Besides, you may end up gaining valuable insights from them to help take your business to the next level.

Give Detailed Answers to Questions

Questions are one way to keep your teleconference interesting and interactive. However, avoid giving vague answers to questions. This is a sure-fire way to discourage your audience from engaging in the conversation and will make them think that you don't have anything valuable to say.

You can avoid this by including specific examples, case studies or data points, and anecdotes when answering their queries. In addition, it's important not to be afraid to disagree with them but rather engage in a dialogue about your points of view.

Invite Dialogue Through Open-Ended Questions

Open-ended questions are questions that you can't answer with a simple yes or no. You need to expand on your thoughts and give real, valuable feedback, which will help you create an effective dialogue through teleconference, and open-ended questions provide the perfect avenue.

These questions allow everyone an opportunity to speak and share their thought. It also enables the person answering to continue a discussion if they feel it's necessary or important. For example, you might ask: "Would your company be interested in partnering on this project?"

Relax

Sometimes all it takes is a little relaxation to pass your message across effectively. If that doesn't work, try meditation or just taking a break from the conversation for a moment and coming back fresh. Taking a few deep breaths can help calm your nerves and give you more stamina to continue the call and deliver your message convincingly.

End with a Summary

At the end of a conference call, it is important to summarize what was discussed. This ensures that the main ideas are clear to everyone and that there are no misunderstandings. Following it up with notes is also a good way to ensure that participants can go over the information to reinforce the ideas and use it for future reference.

Whether you're running a business, leading an organization, or giving a presentation, communication skills are essential for success. Teleconferencing is one way to create strong relationships with colleagues and clients without ever leaving your office.

We can help make sure that the sound quality of your conference call doesn't get in the way of your message by providing support for your teleconferencing needs. Call Conference Town today to start a free, high-quality conference call from home or work.