What Happened to Our Phone Skills?
It may seem trivial, but the telephone is still an essential business tool. Lacking good phone skills can ultimately prevent you from getting a job - even if the position does not require daily phone communication.
Here is what concerns me: Graduating college students are entering the workforce and learning that they have to talk to prospective employers and/or clients on the phone and they are not always prepared to do so. Some realize that the only real phone conversations they have had are with their parents and/or grandparents! … But this does not only just apply to a particular generation --many seasoned professionals rely on non-verbal communication, with email being the primary culprit = rusty, at best, phone skills!
Here are some ways to improve your telephone skills:
Speak clearly – For the love of all things good- do not answer your phone with “what’s up”, “yo”, “yeah” or “speak to me”… Learn to answer every call with a pleasant “hello” and do not mumble.
Say the person’s name as soon as you receive it. This will make the call much more personal. Write it down if you have to!
Project an enthusiastic, natural and attentive tone. When a potential employer calls you, the manner in which you answer the call is one of the first impressions of you that they get.
Be an active listener. Listen carefully to what the person is saying. Take notes when needed, and wait for the person to finish speaking.
Close the call with a goodbye. Leave the person feeling like you enjoyed speaking with them and that you want to continue the conversation.
Granted, there is a place for emailing and texting in the business world, but without vocal inflection sometimes messages can be misconstrued. So here’s a final ‘message’ for you: Effective communication results in productive relationships. Practice makes perfect … Remember that the phone is a tool—use it!
-Jenn
