In today's fast-paced business world, telephone communication is more important than ever. With the proliferation of cell phones, business is conducted 24/7 and the phone has become our lifeline. It is more important than ever to be aware of phone etiquette and manners. Here are some tips to ensure success.
- Plan the call. Always jot down key objectives before making a call. What are you trying to accomplish? What outcome are you expecting? How will you deal with objections? By setting an agenda, you are showing respect to the person you are calling and acknowledging his or her busy schedule.
- Know who you are calling. Getting a person's name right is critical. Understand the person's position in the organization and acknowledge that in your greeting.
- Be polite. This should be obvious, but being polite doesn't just mean treating the person you are calling with respect. This should extend to the person answering the phone or to the message that you leave on voice mail. Many business people rely on voice mail to screen calls, and your approach can make the difference as to whether or not they return your call. Be careful to keep your tone of voice modulated and never indicate impatience at having to leave a message. If the technology allows, review your message before hitting "send." Many systems allow for you to erase and re-record your message. If that's the case, do it!
- Introduce yourself. Make sure that your party knows who you are, what company you represent and the nature of your call. This applies whether you reach the person's voice mail or connect in person. Speak clearly and slowly.
...
Click here to read the rest of the article at HowToDoThings.com
Author: Donna Reynolds