Those Boring Conference Calls..

Aah, did I touch a string or played a chord you were trying to avoid! Don’t feel bad, I know you would have called few of your conference calls boring in the past. Well, don't we all sometimes. 

What is that one thing that makes a conference call boring?

Lets look at a few day-to-day examples, shall we? A presentation that you are least interested in, a report that has too much of data, graphs and bullet points; mostly being overdone with bright colors and designs [as if you were watching models walking in Lakme Fashion Week], an organization structure change that barely impacts your day to day job, a discussion that leads to an inconclusive argument, and sways you from solutions, a recurring conference call where all you do is discuss about things that were not done as decided in the previous call, a call which you joined for a mere formality or may be you are just standing in for your boss.

So what do you feel like doing when you are stuck on a conference call due to these reasons, apart from making faces and feeling frustrated - that where the hell am I stuck!

Let’s start with some business activities, to make us feel good that we still work while being on such calls [it's all about utilizing your time, ain't it]. To name a few- replying less important emails (depends on how many you receive in a day), drafting a less important email that needs one liners more than anything else, chat with a colleague on an ongoing issue - obviously on small and minor ones, go through a document/report that you have been wanting to somehow finish reading - a tick in the box basically, or do some basic reporting that needs less of your concentration.

We might not feel like doing any or all of these things during such calls always, so what else can be done? 

Have some fun probably. These calls turn out to be your chance to do something different that your busy schedule doesn't allow you to do; as we know its all about evolving. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Why be that Jack anyway! So here are a few things you can do while being bored to death on such calls; chat with your latest crush or love interest at work (make sure its not an explicitly-romantic conversation if you are talking on the office communicator, if it is, use your mobile. I am sure you know what I mean.), check out that cute, hot guy or girl on your floor - within your visible reach of-course (some may find themselves unlucky in this regard, I know you feel too bad about it), Facebook and Twitter are age-old options; not sure if you are bored of these too, shop online (now this is the most expensive thing to do on a boring call, unless you have a fat salary and love to shop), if you are using headphones for your call then you can stretch the wire and chit-chat with your colleague/s sitting next to you or a couple of desks away, and crack a few jokes (make sure the mute button on your phone is on or else you will end up being a joke yourself), start a group chat with your colleagues who are on the same call to check if they are also bored (make sure you don’t involve your boss in that chat, you know why, don't you) or may be you would just like to sit back and read an interesting article or blog on the internet.

Depending on what we do on such calls actually determines the duration of the call, a boring call often seems to be longer than its specified time. Doing something interesting shortens its duration and makes it a stress buster on that very busy day where you haven’t been able to take that smoke or coffee break even once.

While I write this on a boring conference call, I hope you make time to read it during one such call.