You would think that with so many video conferences and conference calls happening in offices around the world every day, we’d all have this down pat by now. Oh no, we don’t: conference calls are some of the most annoying and stressful things your job may make you do. Here’s how you can make them a little better, both for yourself and for everyone else on the line.

If you’re lucky and get to telecommute from time to time, you really know this pain. You have to sit on endless conference calls, or deal with colleagues in conference rooms on speakerphones just to keep up with what’s going on. Video calls aren’t much better—they can drag on too, and then you have to be presentable when you join them—or deal with other people who really aren’t. Here are some ways you can be the change you want to see, and make those virtual meetings more tolerable for everyone involved.

Read more via How to Take a Conference Call Without Driving Everyone Else Crazy.