International conference calls are a cheap solution for multinational companies that have offices in all corners of the globe and require regular communication through teleconferencing or other means. Conference calls of these international types save time, money, traveling expenses and hassles and are extremely cost effective (when meeting in person is impossible).

Agenda

Still it is not free and it takes coordination of time for all to make international conference calls. And so you should have a clear cut, well prepared agenda drawn out beforehand. Decide clearly all the important points that need to be discussed during the course of the meeting and acquaint other participants about these agendas and outlines through email.

When you have a prepared agenda on hand your meeting can move forward in a fast paced manner and you can make your points directly and the meeting can sail on smoothly without costly hiccups or interruptions.

Time is Money

Because extensive worldwide conference calls can get costly, time is of the essence while conducting the meeting to reduce expenses.

If any aspect of the business agenda requires detailed explanation, or if there are concerns or questions that need to be addressed, do it beforehand before the start of the meeting. This will prevent unnecessary waste of time during the actual conference.

Suitable and Convenient Time

When you are having an international conference with team members spread all across the globe, you need to keep in mind the time zones of each country. International conference calls should be made at a time that is suitable and convenient for everybody in the team.

You cannot force some participants to join the meeting at midnight, simply because it is convenient for others based in the US to hold the meeting in the afternoon.

You should also be punctual and wrap up the meeting at the hour decided or before. Try to avoid scheduling your meetings at times when some other participants may be stuck with late evening or early morning calls. Respect other members’ personal work schedules and avoid delays.

Language and Cultural Barriers

In an international conference, some of the participants may not be that comfortable with the language being spoken. You have to make concessions for language and cultural barriers by speaking and using simple, every day, easy to understand language.

Avoid using slang and vernacular/regional idioms/phrases/language that many of the participants will fail to grasp.

If necessary, you should do your homework about the business etiquettes and culture of a particular country to learn the types of approach that work best while addressing participants from that particular country.

Online Conferencing Tool

There are various online conferencing tools that can prove to be extremely useful while making international conference calls. All you have to do to prevent waste of time during the international conference is to make sure that the devices and tools are in perfect working order.

Check to see that all the members have already installed the right software and have their personal machines all set up and ready to go before the meeting starts.