Teleconferencing is the new way of doing business. Many people prefer to teleconference instead of traveling for face-to-face meetings. Teleconferencing is also less expensive than conducting a meeting in person and can be done quickly.

But with this new way of communicating comes a whole new set of challenges. It can be frustrating when you are on a teleconference, and someone is not paying attention. They either talk on the phone, check their email, or surf the web.

This can be a major distraction and lead to poor communication. In addition, it can lead to a lack of productivity and wasted time. Here are some tips for dealing with multitasking teleconference listeners:

Set Clear Rules

Make sure all participants know the ground rules for the call, including what is and is not appropriate behavior. For example, if you are on a teleconference with several people who have never met each other before, it might be helpful to introduce them to one another and set some ground rules for how the call will go. Let everyone know that there will be an opportunity for questions at the end of the meeting or during breaks between presentations.

Provide a Structure

To keep everyone focused on the topic at hand, you want to provide your teleconference attendees with a structure. This means providing them with an agenda or outline of what will be discussed during your call so that they can stay on track and not get lost in their thoughts. A great way to do this is by sending out a meeting agenda ahead of time.

Eliminate Distractions

Call quality is key to keeping everyone engaged. Make sure that all participants are in a quiet room and using headphones if possible so as not to distract others around them with the noise from their keyboard or mouse clicks. You don't want people to get lost in their thoughts because they're listening to someone else typing on their computer.

Make Things Lively

To keep people engaged, you want to make things lively. This means using interesting stories, examples, and analogies to get your point across. You can also ask questions throughout the call to generate discussion. Or you could even have people give short presentations about their findings from earlier in the day. The point is to ensure that everyone is contributing and that the call is not just one person talking at a time.

Take Breaks

It's important to take breaks during long teleconference calls. For instance, if you are on a call for three hours, it might be helpful to take short breaks every hour or so. This will help keep everyone's attention levels up and avoid fatigue, leading to poor communication among attendees. Plus, it will give people a chance to stretch their legs, use the bathroom, and get some fresh air. It will also allow them to refocus and return to the call with fresh eyes.

Encourage Participation

It's important to encourage participation from all of your teleconference attendees, not just the people who are speaking. This means making sure that everyone has a chance to share their thoughts and ideas, even if it's just by asking them a question. You can also do this by giving people the opportunity to ask questions throughout the call. This will help keep everyone on their toes and ensure that no one feels left out.

Show Enthusiasm

As the host, your job is to keep everyone engaged and interested in what's going on. This means showing enthusiasm whenever possible, even if it's just by smiling or laughing at one of their jokes. You want your attendees to feel like they are contributing something valuable during the call – not just there because you needed someone else on with you.

Give Participants Something Tangible

If you've ever attended a teleconference that felt like a waste of time, it's probably because you didn't walk away with anything concrete to show for it. To avoid this, make sure that everyone has something tangible to take home from the call. This could be a list of action items, minutes from the meeting, or just a summary of what was discussed during the call.

Be Aware of Cues

While teleconferencing can be a great way to communicate with people, it's important to be aware of their cues. For instance, if you ask questions, but no one seems to respond, it might be because they are not paying attention. Or if people start to fidget or look like they're losing focus, it might be time for a break. By being aware of these cues, you can adjust your behavior and keep the call on track.

Deal with Multitaskers One-On-One

If one of your colleagues is multitasking during a call, don't address this issue in front of the group. This could make them feel embarrassed and might not pay more attention to the call. Instead, deal with this person one-on-one after the call is over. As much as you might want to get their immediate attention, it's not worth alienating them or making them feel uncomfortable.

Don't Ignore Bad Behavior

Sometimes, even the badly behaving participant doesn't realize how their behavior affects the rest of the group. If someone continues to interrupt others or monopolize the conversation, it's best not to ignore this bad behavior. Instead, call them out on it and let them know that you think they should stop doing what they're doing because it ruins everyone else's experience during teleconferencing sessions. Better lose one participant than risk losing the rest of the group.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that your teleconference attendees are focused and engaged during your meeting. And by doing so, you'll improve the overall quality of your teleconference call and make sure that everyone gets something out of it.

Find Teleconferencing Support

A reliable teleconferencing partner can help you keep your team members focused and engaged during your calls. ConferenceTown.com is a teleconferencing provider that offers free calls and excellent customer service. Leverage our high-quality calls for your next teleconference and see how much of a difference it makes in the quality of your meeting.