To not like impromptu calls on MS Teams?

I miss being in an office and answering a landline phone, those were the days!

Most people do msg first but occasionally someone will randomly call often to bring me into another meeting for a quick question, or just to ask something quickly. I don't mind too much as it doesn't happen often.

It has replaced the fone so in that way folk wld just call u unexpectedly.

I don't ever not answer unless I'm already in another mtg.

@namechangeGOT

For me it’s when I’m working from home and is the only time I can properly concentrate and get in the zone, and then I have to be seen. It feels invasive. I always use a background, but I just hate being forced to be on camera.
It isn’t as bad for me (but I still don’t like it) when I’m on the office and have to take part in teams meetings.

I don't like it either. I find (generalising but true in my case) it's mainly older or senior staff who ring straight up, and younger staff message first / schedule a call for later (like on phones).

Truthfully, I also often sit on the sofa with my laptop (I know I know...) but prefer to look more 'professional' on a call by hopping to the table next door. So I want the opportunity to say 'yes fine', then just up myself across, which takes marginally more time than someone typically holds on ringing for.

And very occasionally I'm still in my PJs and want to grab a jumper to put over me. So, yep, there's that too. Which isn't a good reason, but a truthful one!

But, most of the time, the reason I don't like it is because I am available, but I would find it better to be asked 'are you free for a call?', me reply 'yep give me 3 mins to finish this email and Ill call you', complete the task while you're in that headspace, then call. The DNB button does not work for this - I'm not really 'officially' uninterruptible doing something that needs 100% concentration, I just want to complete my work tasks in way where the email gets sent before the 15 minute call rather than after when it will only take 3 minutes more

Why do I care? For me, it's just being in control of my tasks. If I have in my head I'm doing one task, and get diverted to another by the unscheduled call, I find this more stressful than having it scheduled. It's only a little bit more stressful, I can cope - but I notice it. Everyone knows that 'running around doing a gazzilion things at once' is stressful. It's just a micro-version of that. Why have that stress at all if a little message can be sent?

If I’m green then I’m good to go. Once a month or so I need to put myself on DND to meet a regular deadline and if I’ve got other things that are especially pressing I will do it too. In the same way as that if I were in the office I’d move from my desk to an empty meeting room and shut myself away to finish something without distractions.
we work in teams and it’s helpful to be available to each other so i’ll always answer when I can, it’s literally part of my job to work with my colleagues!

I don't understand what pressure there is? Why is it 'pressure' to be seen during a meeting in person, or on teams or however a meeting is being conducted?

Thankfully, we got shut of teams in our office when everyone returned after covid. We simply go with the human approach of speaking in person, speaking on the phone or texting.

I really hate that too, and phone calls.

When people at my workplace Teams call me, most of them have their video camera on too, so I feel I have to put mine. We have a rule that we must always have our cameras on in Teams meetings - I detest the pressure of that.

I see MS teams as the same as you being in the office. If I would walk up to your desk to discuss something, I will teams you without sending a pre message.

What I hate more than anything is receiving a teams message like "Can I ask you something?"
I usually wait a few minutes then respond "sure"

If you are someone who does that, why don't you put what you want to ask in the message? For example "have you got a minute to talk about xxxx" or, you know, just call without the time wasting non message.

I've got a personal rule that, if I miss a call (phone or teams) and the caller doesn't leave a message then I won't call them back.

🤣

People are saying they routinely message before calling. That’s duplication.

A message that has content , like you mention, that’s different. You’re getting to the point.

honestly , people are drowning in unnecessary comms, we really need to wake up as a Society and recognise this.

I would also say that I don't put my camera on during unscheduled teams call, only for pre arranged meetings. A teams call is just a phone call for me, and with old school desk phones there's be no expectation to see the other person.

Also, you don’t have to answer by video. Sometimes I answer without video on. You also don’t always have to answer. Sometimes I don’t have time, and I don’t. This is… life?

I always check if the person I'm calling is about to attend a meeting/call (look at calendar). If they aren't and are on green then it's fair game. You can set focus time, do not disturb etc. my first question is always are you ok to chat? If not arrange to call later.

Then set yourself to away or busy? I wouldn't call someone who wasn't showing as available without messaging first!

Hahaaa yes of course you would??? Where do you get that no one would expect it of you? They’d have walked up to your desk, said hey Jessica what are you doing on the testing workstream this week? Repeat 30 times.

Put yourself as busy if you don't want a call? If you're showing as available then I assume you're available?

I don't mind it but can be awkward when I'm working in bed or trying to hide from my children even though my husband is there. Luckily it doesn't happen too often and people are very understanding!

OP out of interest how old are you? Younger people I work with tend to message first (but their phone etiquette is poor). I don’t message first, I see it as the equivalent of picking up the phone.

I don't monitor my IMs, so if someone messaged me to ask if they could call me I just wouldn't see it. Same with emails. Both get checked and dealt with twice a day, otherwise I'd be constantly interrupted and get no work done.
So I prefer phone calls without an IM first. I just won't answer if it will interrupt my flow, I do use my teams status to show when it's ok to call me, and I have a statement on teams telling people that they need to call if it's urgent as I'm not monitoring IMs.
What annoys me are the messages that just start with 'hi Otters' then they wait for a response before writing more.
I also really dislike IMs from people I don't know, not sure what that's about tbh 🤷
I'm in a risk role so there are no quick questions for me, it's all about context, so a teams call is always better so I can ask questions.
The WFH element makes zero difference for me so it's no different to being in the office imo, just no commute. I'm still going to be active working the whole time, with a break for lunch and the necessary trips to the loo and the kettle. It's not going to be any more/less inconvenient to be interrupted than it would be if I was in the office.

Who does it make it more efficient for? The business, anyone else, or is it all just about you?

I don't mind it but I always message first to be polite.

Yabu.
You have to do some things you don't like and get out of your comfort zone especially when you're getting paid for it!

Whilst there are many benefits to WFH and I have myself (now hybrid), this illustrates the issue. People view productivity as just ‘their’ work. If someone else can’t get hold of you by walking over to your desk or a quick call - it’s not productive for the business. The business is not just you.

At my work if you're green it's fair game, red/busy you message first and DND you email.
I have no concept of being on green but away from my screen as you should be locking down every time you leave your desk. If you're presenting etc you automatically go to DND.
I usually check in with people before calling but if it's someone who is chocka I call and apologise if they answer 😉

With all the home working it's nice to speak on video and see people like the old days. I had a really nice chat with a colleague of never met before in another dept this morning on a random call and I feel I've made a really positive connection.

I don't like unexpected calls, especially when I'm in the middle of something and it interupts the flow, but that's a me problem and I can't complain about it. A message would also interrupt my flow and I'd need to mess about replying to a message and dealing with a call.