The bizarre habits of employees on conference calls

Conference calling is potentially one of the most awkward and off-putting aspects of any professional role. Speaking with someone face-to-face allows for mirroring, symmetry and the ability to clearly understand body language. However, when you translate this into a voice call, especially one with several participants, all hell can break loose.

A new study into the UK’s conference call habits has revealed some interesting findings about the way Brits talk and the faux pas we make on conference calls. 42% of Britons find themselves ‘often’ or ‘sometimes’ putting on a phone voice, according to research from Polycom, with 19% of those surveyed admitting to having laughed out loud on a conference call.

Idioms most likely to infuriate those on conference calls include ‘ducks in a row’, ‘going forwards’ and ‘touch base’.

“Conference calls are becoming more prevalent as organisations see the benefits of flexible arrangements, meaning work is increasingly carried out from locations other than the office,” said Business Etiquette Expert, Emma Dupont. “This means that the rules around conference calls are evolving fast, especially with the option of webcam being increasingly deployed. With many people now working from their home office it is vital to remember that a professional image is still paramount.