7 Secrets to Great Phone Etiquette

When it comes to common courtesy, nothing in this world brings out the worst in people than the telephone. I know there are those of you out there who may disagree with me. "I don't have a problem using the phone" you may say. Most of you probably don't have any problems with communicating over the phone. However, there are those select few who need a little help. To those of you who actually do know how to express yourselves intelligibly over the phone, I thank you. To the rest of you, here are seven tips to help ensure that you get it right the next time you make a call.

1. Be clear about what you want - Although the nature of your call may be obvious to you, remember that the person on the other end of the line is not a mind reader. Regardless of where you are calling, it is important to state exactly what you are try to accomplish. Weather it is an information request or you are simply trying to reach a particular person, let the person taking your call know exactly what you want. When you do this, instead of hinting or speaking in incomplete sentences, you will find that you get much better results.

2. Be courteous - Many people, although not openly rude or hostile, have serious problems with being courteous. I know none of you have this problem, but someone out there does. Remember, when you are making a call to someone, chances are good that you are trying to get something from them. This means that you need them to help you a lot more than they need to deal with your being rude to them over the phone. Just remember the old saying "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar."

3. Avoid using a speakerphone - Although not particularly rude, using a speakerphone can be quite annoying since they are often difficult to hear. It may also create the impression that you are to busy or distracted to care about what is going on over the phone. If you are actually to busy or distracted, then by all means wait until you can devote your full attention to you call. If you are simply using the speaker while you dial simply pick up the handset when your call is answered. If you do need to use the speaker for a legitimate reason the polite thing to do is ask permission before you put someone on speaker. Chances are they will say yes and it will do wonders for their perception of you.

4. Be attentive - When you call someone you expect their full and undivided attention, right? You should be willing to return the courtesy. Try to act as though you are in a face-to-face meeting with the person on the phone, that way you are not tempted to perform other tasks, such as email, while on the phone. Simply avoiding distractions and giving your full attention to someone will go a long way to ensure that you are helped quickly and politely.

5. Be aware of your surroundings - With cell phones becoming such an accepted part of everyday life, it is easy to forget that we must be extra careful to avoid any social faux pas. If you must conduct business on your cell phone, be sure to remember that other people may be in close proximity, quickly turning your private conversation into a public spectacle. When you use your cell phone in public, excuse yourself so you can speak in private. Not only will those around you appreciate it, but so will the person your are speaking to.

6. Know how to return a call on you caller ID - This may seen kind of picky, but there is nothing more annoying than answering the phone and having someone simply say their own name or ask "what do you want?" If you are simply hitting redial, be aware that the person who answers probably has no idea who you are or who called you. When in doubt about this, refer back to item 1. Remember those complete sentences and you to will be able to return missed calls.

7. Remember to say "Thank you." - It may seem simple, but old-time manners still work in the modern world. Never underestimate the power of "Please" and "Thank You".

If you follow these simple guidelines, you will be getting helped quickly and courteously before you know it.