The Mark Twain Guide to Conference Calling (Chapter B)
http://www.esmartarticles.com/articles/80300/1/The-Mark-Twain-Guide-to-Conference-Calling-Chapter-B/Page1.html
Andre Vanier
Andre D. Vanier is the CEO of Rondee, a free conference calling company that was first to market with a lightweight collaboration tool. Vanier speaks extensively on trends in communications and was an early co-founder of the free directory assistance industry. By Andre Vanier
Published on February 28th, 2010
Today’s business world relies heavily on quick, informative communication Organizations prize team members who possess the ability to participate effectively in teleconferences or other types of conferences
Today’s business world relies heavily on quick, informative communication. Organizations prize team members who possess the ability to participate effectively in teleconferences or other types of conferences.
In Chapter A of this series we examined the theme of teamwork, and the importance of nurturing an atmosphere of respect and appreciation when working with others in the conference call setting.
Here we will consider how other notable quotations from Mark Twain can illuminate important points to take into account when preparing for your next conference call.
1. Remember the value of humility when expressing your opinions.
"There is nothing that saps one's confidence as the knowing how to do a thing." (Mark Twain, 3/30/1901)
Sometimes when we work really hard to learn all we can on a subject, we can lose sight of the fact that others may still know more. And no matter how knowledgeable and well-prepared you are, there’s a lot to be gained from hearing a fresh perspective.
Humility means being open to hearing answers from others. It also leads to having the wisdom to see the value in opinions from a diverse range of perspectives.
2. Encourage dissent.
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect)." (Mark Twain's Notebook, 1904)
Just because everyone agrees, doesn’t mean that you’re all right. You might all be certainly wrong. Remember to double-check at every stage.
An effective technique for double checking is to encourage dissent. In other words, encourage the team to think things through one more time and make sure that you didn’t miss something vital, which would change the whole picture.
Generally speaking, in conference calls it is sometimes a good idea to appoint someone to play the role of advocating for the opposite point of view. This can also be a rotating position even within the conversation itself.
It can be insurance policy to help the team make certain it won’t get carried away and miss an important point. A good team leader always encourages dissent in this way and helps keep everyone on their toes.
3. Listening requires silence.
"The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it." (Mark Twain's Notebook)
This point is especially important in teleconferencing, where participants can’t see each other face to face; but really it applies equally to other types of conference calling situations as well. It is a fact of life that you cannot listen well and talk well at the same time.
Give other participants in the call space to express their thoughts carefully, in their own time. Successful communication is only possible when speakers are able to explain their perspectives without interruption, with the knowledge that other participants will be paying close attention.
4. Everybody's opinion has value.
"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained." (Mark Twain's Notebook, 1898)
Keeping an open mind, and being willing to embrace new ideas are indispensable in the give-and-take of the conference call format. Give everyone a chance to participate freely and listen to what they have to say. It just might lead to your next great idea.
In Chapter A of this series we examined the theme of teamwork, and the importance of nurturing an atmosphere of respect and appreciation when working with others in the conference call setting.
Here we will consider how other notable quotations from Mark Twain can illuminate important points to take into account when preparing for your next conference call.
1. Remember the value of humility when expressing your opinions.
"There is nothing that saps one's confidence as the knowing how to do a thing." (Mark Twain, 3/30/1901)
Sometimes when we work really hard to learn all we can on a subject, we can lose sight of the fact that others may still know more. And no matter how knowledgeable and well-prepared you are, there’s a lot to be gained from hearing a fresh perspective.
Humility means being open to hearing answers from others. It also leads to having the wisdom to see the value in opinions from a diverse range of perspectives.
2. Encourage dissent.
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect)." (Mark Twain's Notebook, 1904)
Just because everyone agrees, doesn’t mean that you’re all right. You might all be certainly wrong. Remember to double-check at every stage.
An effective technique for double checking is to encourage dissent. In other words, encourage the team to think things through one more time and make sure that you didn’t miss something vital, which would change the whole picture.
Generally speaking, in conference calls it is sometimes a good idea to appoint someone to play the role of advocating for the opposite point of view. This can also be a rotating position even within the conversation itself.
It can be insurance policy to help the team make certain it won’t get carried away and miss an important point. A good team leader always encourages dissent in this way and helps keep everyone on their toes.
3. Listening requires silence.
"The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it." (Mark Twain's Notebook)
This point is especially important in teleconferencing, where participants can’t see each other face to face; but really it applies equally to other types of conference calling situations as well. It is a fact of life that you cannot listen well and talk well at the same time.
Give other participants in the call space to express their thoughts carefully, in their own time. Successful communication is only possible when speakers are able to explain their perspectives without interruption, with the knowledge that other participants will be paying close attention.
4. Everybody's opinion has value.
"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained." (Mark Twain's Notebook, 1898)
Keeping an open mind, and being willing to embrace new ideas are indispensable in the give-and-take of the conference call format. Give everyone a chance to participate freely and listen to what they have to say. It just might lead to your next great idea.