A processor-implemented method of operation for managing a push-to-talk, PTT, session involving a plurality of participants, comprising: applying , at a PTT server , a first floor control algorithm that corresponds to a first floor control template at the PTT server , the first floor control template being applied by the PTT server in response to a selection of the first floor control template being received by the PTT server from a first participant that selected the first floor control template from a plurality of floor control templates, wherein each of the plurality of floor control templates arbitrate among talk requests received from the participants; and during the PTT session, changing , at the PTT server , from the first floor control algorithm to a second floor control algorithm, the second floor control algorithm corresponding to a second floor control template; wherein application of either the first or second floor control algorithm grants only one participant associated with a corresponding endpoint device permission to transmit speech from the corresponding endpoint device directly to a remaining group of the participants, endpoint devices associated with the remaining group of participants not being permitted to transmit speech, and further wherein the second floor control algorithm comprises a distributed floor control algorithm that functions as an overlay to the first floor control algorithm, the distributed floor control algorithm distributing floor control among a plurality of servers that have groups of participants connected thereto and that select a local arbitration participant winner from the corresponding groups of participants, and causing the PTT server to select the one participant from the local arbitration participant winners selected by the plurality of servers. applying , at a PTT server , a first floor control algorithm that corresponds to a first floor control template at the PTT server , the first floor control template being applied by the PTT server in response to a selection of the first floor control template being received by the PTT server from a first participant that selected the first floor control template from a plurality of floor control templates, wherein each of the plurality of floor control templates arbitrate among talk requests received from the participants; and during the PTT session, changing , at the PTT server , from the first floor control algorithm to a second floor control algorithm, the second floor control algorithm corresponding to a second floor control template; wherein application of either the first or second floor control algorithm grants only one participant associated with a corresponding endpoint device permission to transmit speech from the corresponding endpoint device directly to a remaining group of the participants, endpoint devices associated with the remaining group of participants not being permitted to transmit speech, and further wherein the second floor control algorithm comprises a distributed floor control algorithm that functions as an overlay to the first floor control algorithm, the distributed floor control algorithm distributing floor control among a plurality of servers that have groups of participants connected thereto and that select a local arbitration participant winner from the corresponding groups of participants, and causing the PTT server to select the one participant from the local arbitration participant winners selected by the plurality of servers. <EOS>