Dialing In, Tuning Out What Employees Really Do on Conference Calls and What You Can Do About It InterCall October 2014
Mobile Conferencing s Moment New collaboration tools are forcing a shift in how we work, and how we communicate with colleagues and clients. Given the pervasive adoption of mobile devices, traditional meetings can be taken from the most non-traditional places (bathrooms and beaches included). Methodology InterCall, the world s largest conferencing and collaboration provider, sifted through mobile call data and surveyed more than 500 full-time employees to get a stronger grasp of how mobile conferencing is changing day-to-day business, and what exactly people are up to during conference calls.
Mobile Meeting Usage on the Rise As more employees begin using smartphones, tablets and phablets for work and personal use, the incidence of mobile conferencing has followed suit. 2011 2013 +64% 2011 2013 +42% +9% Total mobile calls into conferences were up 42% over the last 2 years Mobile accounted for 19.4% of all conferencing minutes in 2011, compared to 21.2% in 2013 Mobile s inherent flexibility is quickly making it the conferencing medium of choice, with 64% of employees preferring to take conference calls via mobile devices rather than a landline
How Much Flexibility Is Too Much? The modern employee s inclination to multitask and stay agile is further enabled by mobile conferencing. 82% of InterCall survey Truck stop bathroom In the middle of the woods respondents admitted to working on unrelated items while on a conference call, which is unsurprising, given the array of places employees have admitted to taking calls from: McDonald s Playplace Behind a church during a wedding rehearsal Disney World Closet during a house party Emergency Room
65% 1. 63% 2. The Top 10 Things People Do Other Work 55% 3. Send Emails Do During Conference Calls Eat or Make Food 4. 5. 47% 44% Go to the Restroom Text
43% 6. 7. 25% Check Social Media Play Video Games The Top 10 8. 21% Things People Do During 9. Shop Online 10. Conference 9% 6% Calls Exercise Take Another Call
Conference Call Confessions In today s always-on business, multitasking between emails and other work responsibilities is hardly the most controversial aspect of conference call behavior. Consider that: 39% 27% 5% 39% of employees have quietly dropped off a call to pretend they were still on 27% of employees have fallen asleep during a conference call 5% of employees had a friend take a work conference call in their place
Old Habits Die Hard, But New Habits Are Quicker to Kill Don t knock the technology, knock the process. While a majority of employees admit to not giving their full attention during conference calls, there are a number of management and technology solutions to combat false participation problems.
5 Ways to Break Bad Call Behaviors Show invitation discretion: If someone doesn t truly need to be on a call, don t invite them. Only include the most relevant stakeholders to the topic or project at hand. Pass the mic: A simple way to keep participants active during a call is through inclusion. Calling on each person to speak or ask questions in a conference encourages attentiveness throughout. Activity productivity: Joining a meeting for the sake of looking busy doesn t equate to high-quality business results. Company leaders must promote a culture of true productivity and involvement. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Appeal to multiple senses: Audio alone may not be enough to hold callers attention (especially when 65% of people are visual learners). Integrating video and other multimedia content fosters a more engaging conference experience for all. Eliminate end-user fumbling: If participants have trouble dialing in to a conference call, chances are they won t stay tuned in during it. Technology that removes end-user hassle can set the tone for a successful meeting from the start.
Curious About How to Make Mobile Conferencing More Effective for Your Business? Visit us today at www.intercall.com to learn how we can help your business experience more engaging, effective mobile conferencing. 800.820.5855