Have you ever had to rush through an important meeting due to a busy schedule? Or sat through a dull one in-person that would have been less miserable if you hadn’t needed to commute to work for it? In moments like these, it’s understandable to find yourself wishing for more remote-friendly ways to chat with your coworkers.
Fortunately, the right technology exists, and in a world with COVID-19, it’s more acceptable to use it. Communicating via mobile conference is becoming increasingly popular, so let’s discuss some of its benefits and why companies should invest more in virtual calling:
One of mobile conferencing's most appealing advantages to businesses is its cost — or lack thereof. Companies can save a significant amount of money on office rent and other fees by opting for a virtual communication platform instead. Everyone can work from home, no one has to spend gas money commuting, and a single app can reduce phone expenses.
If you’re hesitant to adopt mobile conferencing because you’re accustomed to in-person meetings or video calls, or you fear they’re less productive because the environment is different, don’t worry — mobile meetings are just as effective as any other. As long as you have a meeting facilitator who can steer the conversation and prevent attendees from speaking over each other, everyone still has an opportunity to share their ideas and express concerns.
Phone call meetings are better equalizers, too. Loud personalities sometimes drown out more introverted participants, but it’s easier to create calmer energy in a virtual “room” than a real one. Have your facilitator move the conversation between speakers at regular intervals. Plus, it’s less rude to ask someone to move on to a new topic when you have a scheduled time limit to maintain.
Want to know one of the best perks of taking a conference call on a cell phone? You don’t have to be anywhere in particular. In-person meetings obviously require you to be in an office, but even video conferences force you to sit in one area until the call is over. Mobile meetings, however, allow you to be anywhere — any room in your house, a cafe, a library, and best of all, on a walk.
How often do you go for a stroll through your neighborhood? You might not have much time for it on a normal working schedule, but taking your meetings outside lets you exercise and enjoy fresh air on a regular basis. Being near nature benefits your mental health, and physical exertion actually boosts your creativity (again, making your meetings more productive!).
As mentioned previously, working remotely doesn’t necessitate commuting to work — which means your car isn’t releasing carbon emissions nearly as often. It might be a slight change in the grand scheme of things, but it’s a difference worth making. Similarly, in-person meetings often tempt people to create and distribute printouts, so mobile conferences can save a lot of paper!
Though one of mobile conferencing’s benefits is that you don’t have to commute to interact with your coworkers, it’s still travel-friendly for those who are consistently on the go and never know where they’ll have a reliable place to work. Whether you make regular business trips that require working from airports or a digital nomad hopping between countries, phone call meetings are far more convenient (and spare you the trouble of looking presentable all the time).
Zoom fatigue is a recent phenomenon that describes workers' exhaustion after being on camera for long hours every week. Though video conferences are as close to in-person meetings as technology allows, they still have their downsides. Notably, your own image can be distracting, and video still can’t compensate for specific visual cues and body language our brains rely on (being on camera also makes you feel a little scrutinized, doesn’t it?).
Voice-only meetings spare you from being on camera for too long. True, you can’t see someone’s face, but your brain compensates for missing visual cues by encouraging you to move around, making audio calls and walking meetings a perfect match. You’re free from being watched, and you can go wherever you like (without too much background noise!) without disturbing your colleagues.
Taking a conference call on your cell phone is much more convenient than video chat when you have the right app. The best platforms include built-in smart assistants that transcribe your conversations so you can review them in text format later, store recordings securely, and allow you to share notes with other participants. You’ll stay organized and in touch with your coworkers — all without having to plan for commuting time.
One such app that includes all the features above is Spot. Spot facilitates voice-only meetings and encourages users to exercise by walking, resulting in more productive discussions that benefit your health and your organization’s bottom line. Switch to Spot and walk with us today!
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