The Right Way to Answer the Phone in Business

With so many activities and tasks demanding our attention during the day, a phone call can easily become just one more distraction taking us away from getting our "to do list" done. It's even harder when our role involves taking calls directly from clients or a lot of coworkers -- phone calls can become a constant annoyance. Unfortunately, that annoyance comes through when we answer the phone with a hurried and clipped, "Hello. Can I help you?".

This can quickly turn off the caller, who may be a valued prospect, client, or colleague. They don't know about all of the other tasks that you are trying to accomplish. All they hear is the rushed and less than cordial tone of your voice.

How can you avoid this?

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• customer+service
• phone+skills
• calls
• business+calls
• phone+conversations
• breathing
• communication
• communication skills
• smiling
• receptionist
• call center

[PamelaRP]

Good-I verify appointments for a company who kids parents seek out. Today there were 25 children who hung up on me when I asked to speak to an adult or a grown up. You could tell they were looking at their caller id box and letting it dictate what to do. I tried to call back a few of the ones that hung up on me or used profanity and they did the same thing to me when I said the word ADULT. Kids will soon all be in jail the way it is going by age 15 because of their refusal to learn or care.

[yryu2]

Thanks for the tips. I wasn't aware that our annoyance was transferred to our voice when we answered the phone. I'll keep that in mind.

[marlonjustyn]

MY FRIEND I THINK U MAKE I LOT MONEY IF U MOK GOOD MONEY FIX YOUR TEETHS

[WauwatosaRealEstate]

Great tip, D. Thanks