Video calls are now the standard in unified communications for internal and external use, and even if the video quality is poor, the cliché of a picture being worth a thousand words still holds a lot of truth — moving pictures even more so.
However, while it is the ideal, video isn’t always possible in every circumstance. As Gavin Sear, EMEA Product Marketing Manager at Poly, pointed out recently, “Everyone is now being instructed to work from home, and you may have a lot of other people in that household or that building using the shared Wi-Fi signal. UC providers are enjoying the benefits of unexpected growth but occasionally struggle to provide full service.”
“UC users can suffer from video freezes or audio breaking up and in these real-time communication situations there’s a need to act quickly. Firstly, check that your PC has not just started a routine cloud backup and avoid sending large file attachments during video calls. If the internet connection isn’t up to scratch for a video meeting, my advice is to switch to audio-only calls to preserve bandwidth and properly prioritise the critical part of the call: the voice.”
Staying connected with voice only
It can be more difficult in a group conversation to maintain a feeling of connectedness and mutual communication when in audio-only mode, and there’s a temptation to let it slide into listening to a one-way broadcast. But if you’re chairing such a call, there are things you can try to deepen that emotional connection and flow, such as:
- Asking a question for everyone to answer in turn — to hear each other’s voice (and check everyone’s sound quality or delay)
- Keep mics on, if the group is small — a judgement call, because those little noises of agreement or engagement deepen rapport but can escalate unpleasantly to become active interference
- Use team photos rather than avatars in your collaboration platform, so you see someone’s personal image enlarged or flashing as you listen to their voice
- Check in with anyone who doesn’t contribute for a while — make sure they’re still connected in every sense. Maybe they’re afraid to interrupt or unsure when to speak up, without the usual visual cues that someone else is ready to concede the floor
Prioritising quality sound
Sear also points out a number of practical ideas that can help you make the most of the crystal-clear audio provided by the Poly Voyager headset range:
