Okay, it's 2 p.m. and we are starting this call with all 50 people in the department.
Is everyone here?
(Are you planning to call roll?)
No, but 25 people will say Yup anyway. About 10 more will say No.
That brings us to the rules of conference calling for the host:
1 Turn off notifications from your meeting app. Please no ding-dong every time someone arrives.
2 Turn off your phone notifications.
3 Start promptly.
For attendees, get there early. Five minutes early is good.
4 Remind everyone to mute.
For attendees: Don't subject others to air sounds from the car window. Eating sounds. Slurping sounds. Or worse.
5 Send an agenda beforehand and follow it.
6 Pause occasionally and see if everyone gets your point.
7 Provide a post-meeting followup.
Attendees: Take some notes. It helps.
