The Ten Commandments for Conference Calls
Michael J. Reitz
Mere weeks ago, conference calls were an inconvenience. Today, with social distancing and shelter-in-place orders in place, these calls are a grim necessity for professionals. We can increase our collective happiness by following a few simple rules.
1. Thou shalt include a call agenda: The agenda shalt require one or more participants to provide an update, make a decision, or deliver on an assignment.
2. “Let’s do a quick call” is not an agenda.
3. Thou shalt start dialing the conference call number two minutes before the start time. Early is good.
4. Thou shalt not wait to dial the number right at the start time.
5. If thou join a conference call late, thou shalt not delay the conference call further by explaining why it was so.
6. Moderators: Thou shalt not penalize thy punctual callers by giving the late caller an extensive review of the discussion thus far. Thou shalt brief the offender one-on-one, outside the camp.
7. Thou shalt finish the call on time or early.
8. Thou shalt mute thy line if thy car moveth or thy dog barketh or thy child cryeth or thy barista chattereth.
9. On second thought, all y’all shalt mute thy line.
10. Any conference call thou has scheduled may be shortened by 15 minutes, even if it hast been scheduled for 15 minutes.
Michael J. Reitz is executive vice president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan