In the modern world, we regularly make a huge number of phone calls - for negotiations on work issues, communication with relatives, friends and acquaintances. Sometimes during the day our phone just does not stop. However, few in our chaotic times think about how politely and correctly he organizes his conversations over the phone. But telephone etiquette is as much an integral part of culture as good manners in real life.
A carelessly dropped word or an out-of-place phrase can instantly spoil all the previously made positive impression on the interlocutor. In order to avoid serious mistakes, it is very important to monitor your speech and observe the basic rules of telephone etiquette.
To begin with, any business conversation should not be time-consuming. Remember that we are all busy people, and no one can spend precious minutes talking on the phone with someone during business hours. If the question is too important and serious to be resolved quickly, postpone it to continue the conversation in person. Try not to take more than five minutes from your partner. Otherwise, it will already be ugly on your part.
The etiquette of telephone communication also determines the maximum possible waiting on the line. If the subscriber is in no hurry to pick up the phone, do not call too long. Count six beeps and break the connection. This will not allow you to seem overly persistent and even somewhat obsessive.
Do not forget about the polite greeting of your invisible interlocutor. And instead of the banal "Hello!" it would be better to say "Good afternoon!". Be sure to ask who you are talking to. If the receiver is not picked up by the person you need, ask if the person you need is able to speak at the moment. In no case do not insist in the case of a negative answer. It’s best to take a look at what time it is most convenient to postpone the conversation.
Telephone etiquette says that in the event of a disconnection, it is precisely the communication participant from whom the initiative originally went. Therefore, if this conversation is important, especially for you, then do not expect the person to call back first.
Anything can happen. For example, you messed up the phone number of the subscriber. What to do in this situation? What does telephone etiquette advise us this time? If you understand that you are clearly not in the right place, ask for forgiveness for disturbing the person and next time dial the number more carefully. Be sure to ask if you have now made a mistake. If this is your interlocutor, calling you, he realized that he dialed the number incorrectly, you should not say such phrases: “Who are you?”, “Where are you calling?” and "What number are you dialing?". Just politely and tactfully inform the person that there is no required subscriber by this number.
If the call initiative comes from you, be sure to think about the scenario of the upcoming conversation in advance. Telephone etiquette advises you to prepare an approximate set of phrases and sentences that can be pronounced in this case. After all, awkward pauses and silence in the phone will be very impolite in relation to the interlocutor. Also, just in case, not far from you, put paper and a pen so that, if necessary, you could immediately write down some data, and not make the interlocutor wait on the line while you are looking for everything you need.
If you want to observe telephone etiquette, never call a person with work questions on the home number. This is considered the top of bad form. Leave him the opportunity to forget about business even in his free time. For all working moments there are special numbers. Only if the interlocutor himself suggests in an emergency call him on his home phone, you can do it without fear of seeming impolite.
