Speaker Phone Etiquette

Speaker phones are a great tool in the business world for conducting conference calls. They are also useful at home when several people need to talk at the same time. Like other technology, speaker phones require their own etiquette rules.

Consent

The first thing you always do when talking on a speaker phone is tell the person on the other end that others can hear them; people expect their phone conversations to be private.

Sound

If the speaker phone's "echo" is too loud or the sound quality is otherwise compromised, call from another phone to avoid the annoying noise.

Focus

Concentrate on your conversation and not on doing something else while talking at the same time. You may think you're multitasking--your listener may think you're rude.

Turns

If a group of people is participating on one or both ends of the phone, only one person should talk at a time. Have that person sit near the speaker so she can be clearly heard.

Identification

In group settings where your voice is not well-known, such as an office conference call, identify yourself each time you talk so the listener knows who is speaking.

Avoidance

If you are out in public, avoid using a speaker phone. Other people who are aren't involved in the conversation don't need to hear it.

References

• A-to-Z-of-Manners-and-Etiquette.com: Speakerphone Etiquette
• BottomLineSecrets.com: Speaker-phone Etiquette