Remember when audio conferencing was one of the greatest technologies in corporate America? Punching in a few numbers on the dial could get you easy access to the main line of participants, and you could converse with your team members from the comfort of your personal workspace or your home.
While it may have seemed more convenient at the time, you’d have to admit there were still a few flaws that you probably just tolerated for the sake of getting through another meeting. There may have been an occasional crackle and loss of signal, causing the speaker’s voice to drop out. Or, you may have found yourself daydreaming because of the lack of visual aids to keep you stimulated during the quieter parts of the discussion. Regardless of the reason for your waning faith in the superiority of audio conferences, you’ve probably anticipated a system, like the creation of Blue Jeans, which would enhance the quality of virtual meetings.
Fortunately, the wishes of many professionals in the workplace are manifesting more these days because of the presence of video centric conferences. These online meetings not only possess the audio feature that allows participants to hear themselves and others in separate locations, but they have video components that give individuals the added pleasure of seeing each other as well. If you haven’t used this type of conferencing style, you’re missing out on a venture that could revolutionize the way you interact with members on your business team or clients who value a closer connection. Discover why video conferencing is becoming the new way of the world.
Drawbacks of Audio Conferencing
Although they’re still appreciated, audio conference calls are gradually losing ground in the workforce as more people become familiar with video conferencing. At best, phone meetings are just starting to take a backseat to the preferred approach of meetings that offer video features. At worst, audio-based discussions are a less desirable communication method that some critics believe will eventually become technological relics of the past.
• No Visual Aids
Although they save people time and prevent the headaches of travel accommodations, InsideBusiness360 indicates that audio conferences leave out visual elements that Blue Jeans ultimately encourages. These components make it easier for individuals to stay focused on a meeting’s purpose or realize the overall objective. There are no slide shows or whiteboards that pique interests. Furthermore, you can’t see how others are responding (or not responding) to the material being presented. This is especially damaging if you’re the meeting’s leader or main speaker because you don’t know if you’ve driven your point home or not.
•Useless Results that Lead to Even More Unfruitful Results
If you’re not careful, an ineffective conference call can lead you down a spiral of more unsuccessful meetings. While general follow-up meetings are always useful, many people end up organizing calls to make up for the lack of productivity in the initial audio conference. Essentially, this just becomes a waste of people’s time and energy and doesn’t allow anyone to get much accomplished.
•Rigid Protocols
In order to get the best out of audio conferencing, you may have found that you have to possess a firm hand that over-organizes the direction of the meeting. This is to ensure that everyone stays on task and all points are made in their respective order. While this appears to be a disciplined approach that garners strong effects, most people aren’t fans of this seemingly controlling technique. Being inflexible only stifles the creativity that’s needed to brainstorm and construct excellent business game plans.
Advantages of Video Conferencing
With Blue Jeans video conferencing, you can explore infinite possibilities that aren’t achievable with audio meetings. As this form of business interaction becomes more popular, many companies and individuals may become more satisfied with its influence and the positive impact that resonates. Besides allowing for more generous budget plans, take a look at some additional benefits.
• Saves You from Boredom
Gone are the days of staring at the wall with resentment or periodically biting down on your tongue just to stay awake on a long, tedious conference call. Video centric communications allow participants to make use of multiple senses, rather than solely their ability to hear a conversation. This inevitably heightens concentration levels and helps you absorb more information.
• Encourages Authentic Human Connection
Similar to face-to-face discussions, video conferencing lets you determine the tone of a comment or get a sense of someone’s personality. It’s not a flat, detached approach to corporate communication that many often imagine. These types of meetings typically reveal nonverbal cues, sentiments, and facial expressions that add more flavor to conversations.
• Lessens Opportunities for Misinterpretation
According to PC Tech Magazine, video sessions also help eliminate the miscommunication that often occurs during the exchange of ideas between team members. This is because emotionless audio calls or emails leave room for open interpretation, and people may misread the purpose of an important point. Video conferencing, however, reduces confusion since people are able to grasp unspoken elements or reiterate facts that may have initially been misunderstood.
