Telephone Tips, Techniques and Etiquette

Whether using the telephone for business or personal use, using this communication tool effectively means being timely, communicating clearly and having the other person's interest in mind.

1 ? Plan and schedule your telephone calls so that you can allow time for off-track discussions. If you plan a 10:30am telephone call "schedule" it like you might schedule a face to face meeting: a little extra time, particularly for those you know like to talk!
2 ? At the beginning of your call, mention you know you can cover the points needed within time enough for you to make your next appointment, at a stated time. Then as you want to wind up the conversation you can backtrack to restate the appointment you mentioned. Or, you may find that someone will remind you, "Oh, you have to get on to that appointment, right?"
3 ? Maybe you prefer to wait until you are into the conversation before needing to ask for an exit. As you near time to say goodbye and find it difficult to end, try saying, "Oh my gosh, I have a long distance call I need to take. Can you hold while I take it?" Your customer or friend will likely say the conversation can pick up later. And, once again, it is the other person who ends the call.
4 ? If you have to leave a voice mail, certain elements are important to include: your name, when you are calling, a brief message about your purpose, and a telephone number to return the call to you. If you work in a staffed office and there's another extension of someone as an alternate contact, leave his or her name and extension as well. This last point is being considerate of the other person's time.
5 ? When leaving a voice mail make it easy for the person who is taking and likely writing down this information. First, you can say the number slowly by area code, exchange and last digits. For example, say it just as you might write it in the United States: 777-555-1234. Alternately, or even in addition to the divided method, you can repeat your telephone number a second time. Or, you can combine both methods!
6 ? Your outgoing message (om) is as important to etiquette as the message you leave when you are the caller. For business protocol it's wise to identify yourself by name. At home, if you want more security, you may want to just state, "You have reached, 777-555-1234." In either environment, state for the caller to leave their name, telephone number and a brief message. If you include the date, "Monday, February 21st," in your om, be certain you change it everyday. If you ever have anyone run out of time with leaving his or her message, you may also want to include, "and there is a 30 second (or whatever time) for your brief message."
7 ? The cliché that "time is money," is particularly true for the working person. That we all have the same amount of time is true for everyone. Return your telephone calls on a timely basis, within 24 hours is professional and considerate in either a business or personal setting.

Try one of these tips next time you find yourself wanting to be in charge of the telephone.


Copyright© Patricia Weber, http://www.prostrategies.com.

Pat Weber is a coach, certified telelcass leader, and corporate trainer. With her incisive, effective communication skills, her services can help you to accelerate professional and personal results you want, by helping you increase your choices and build your self-confidence. With personal coaching, a teleclass, an online email course or on-site workshop, get what you want, more easily and more often. Visit her website at http://www.prostrategies.com. Contact her for a free coaching session.

---

An Introduction to Text Messaging

Why Text?Text messaging is a quick way to stay in... Read More

International Calling Made Simpler And Cheaper

When people make international calls from their cell phones or... Read More

Lets Talk

In the eyes of a teenage girl cellular phones are... Read More

Cell Phones Revealed

The cellphone is truly a marvelous invention. It has had... Read More

How to Find the Best Cellular Phone Service Deal

Finding the best cellular phone service deal can seem as... Read More

Recycling Mobile Phones

Recycle Cell PhonesTechnological advancements providing users with improved reception through... Read More

New Tips For Shopping Cellular Services

The best money saving practice for buying new cellular phones... Read More

Built Camera Cell in Phone

Built camera in cell phone - technology is available.The built... Read More

Safer Cell Phone Use For Drivers

Cell phones are great for people on-the-go, but talking on... Read More

Indian Mobile Infrastructure - To 3G or Not To 3G

To most overseas investors circa 1994, a first look at... Read More

Billing Woes For Telcos

The rapid rise in the telecom industry over the last... Read More

Cellular Phone

Technology advances in cellular phone field.Cellular phone shoppers can find... Read More

We Have Compiled a List of Wireless Cell Phones General Cautions and Warnings

For the most part, wireless cell phones are safe. And... Read More

Camera Cell Phone Samsung

Camera cell phone by Samsung ? description.Samsung manufacture a large... Read More

Heres How Cell Phones Make Your Life Easier

Cell phones, the prepaid ones, are the great way to... Read More

Choosing The Right Phone and Voice Mail System

Phone and voice mail systems can be pretty costly, even... Read More

The Cell Phone Store

Effectively everybody wants the hottest and best cheap cell phones... Read More

Ringtone Creation Software - Creating Raves or Waves?

Okay, so we all know that you can change the... Read More

Prepaid Cell Phone Plans ? Are They For You?

Most Americans have cell phone plans with contracts that call... Read More

The Importance Of Cell Phones In Modern Society

Cell phones have become a necessity for many people throughout... Read More

Can You Anticipate The Cell Phones Of The Future?

We have become a society that demands the most technologically... Read More

Cellular Phone Company

Cellular phone company list.There are many large cellular phone companies... Read More

The Pros and Cons of Camera Cell Phones

All the major phone manufacturers are cashing in on the... Read More

Helping You Choose From Cell or Land Line

Most of us have two phones, our cell and our... Read More

What Are Smart Phones And Do You Need One?

Smart phones are a combination of a cell phone and... Read More

Cell Phone Safety

Cell phone safety is a topic widely debated around the... Read More

The Convenience Of Prepaid Wireless Service And Phone Cards

Prepaid wireless service and phone cards are a convenient, reliable... Read More

Making Sense of Cellular Phone Minutes

Cellular phones are different from your land-line home phone in... Read More

Do Cellular Phones Pose Health Risks?

You hear it in the media on a slow news... Read More

PDA Cell Phones - the New Generation of Wireless Phones

It's time you know what the latest technological gadget is.... Read More

Cell Phones - The New Media

Every day, there are more new uses for the classic... Read More

Camera Cell Digital Phone

Camera cell digital phone - description.Camera cell digital phone is... Read More

Kids & Cell Phones

Is it safety? Is it security? Or is it just... Read More