lsewhere because of it. The Noisy Hang Up

Common Courtesy Isn't So Common - 10 Telephone Blunders in Everyday Business


By Joy Fisher-Sykes


As youngsters Wholesale New York Knicks Jerseys , many of us were taught basic telephone etiquette. These lessons taught us the basic components of conducting a phone conversation - politeness, attentiveness, respect, and common courtesy. Unfortunately, it seems these lessons have been forgotten by many of today's companies. For many Wholesale Knicks Jerseys , the philosophy seems to say that it's easier to forgo these practices and, instead, choose to deal with the customer service consequences later. It seems the true cost to the bottom line is of not of any consequence. Why in a time of ever increasing competition locally and abroad, along with the knowledge of customers' high expectations, would anyone be willing to overlook and undervalue this most basic customer service skill?


Common Sense
Common sense and logic aren't so common. Common sense says solid telephone skills cannot be taken for granted and shows our customers we value them and their business. Here are some common telephone blunders and common sense solutions to keep your company on track. Even if you have been guilty of practicing some or all of these blunders Cheap New York Knicks Jerseys , take charge now and reshape your focus to create a customer-focused organization.

No Call Back
I am referring to calls from a co-worker, business associate, vendor, or someone with which you have a standing business relationship. The reasons people choose not to return a call may include the following:

"I don't have any new information to share."
"I'm waiting for so-and-so to return my call or answer my e-mail."
"I don't have a need for this service right now." (Though I may in the future).
"I'm not the person with whom they need to speak."
"I haven't made a decision yet."
Unfortunately, when you realize you were negligent and overdue for a call back Cheap Knicks Jerseys , panic and embarrassment set in and you feel it's easier to duck, dodge, and dance around rather than make the call. This only compounds the problem and doesn't alleviate your uneasiness.

The solution is to pick up the phone. Begin by apologizing for not calling back. Do not make excuses such as, "I was busy." Instead, be honest and forthright Wholesale Michael Beasley Jersey , which goes a long way to building and maintaining solid business relationships and your reputation. Next, proceed to resolve the business at hand. In the future, begin with the positive intention of answering calls in a timely fashion. If you don't have any news or there is no change in circumstances, let the caller know. Inform him or her when you plan to call back, or provide a future date when the caller can contact you – and be sure to pick up the phone. Untimely Voice Mail
Imagine you call a business the day after Labor Day and hear the following message Wholesale Ramon Sessions Jersey , "Thank you for calling ABC Company. You have reached the desk of Jane Doe. I'll be out of the office on business from July 3 through July 15th. Please leave a message." What does this outdated message really say about you to your customers? For one, it says I'm too busy to change a voice message, so, perhaps, I'm too busy to meet and service your business needs. Remember Wholesale Joakim Noah Jersey , your message represents you in your absence. Be sure all messages are timely and reflect a professional image. If the customer needs immediate assistance, be sure to state whom they can contact, along with a phone number.

Another voicemail blunder is allowing a mailbox to fill to capacity so the box won't accept any more messages. I know people who purposefully do this just so they won't receive any more calls, which translates in their mind to not having more work. This is a very unprofessional and unacceptable practice. Check your voice mail periodically throughout the business day. Save messages when necessary. If you expect you will not be available for an extended period of time, state when you expect to check messages and return calls. If you find your mailbox often fills up faster than you can keep up Wholesale Frank Ntilikina Jersey , consider having a live operator accept your calls. Unpreparedness
Have you ever had a caller phone and say, "I need so-and-so's number." You offer the information off the top of your head only to have the caller interrupt you and say, "Hold on a minute. Let me get a something to write with." Why do people call for specific information and yet are unprepared to take the information down? The caller has now wasted hisher time and yours. Every telephone needs always to have three items beside it: a pen, paper, and a mirror. (See the next item as to why you need the mirror.) No Mirror
What you see is what the customer gets. Keeping a mirror next to your phone lets you see what your customers hear. A warm smile can be heard over the phone. If a call has come at a bad moment Wholesale Courtney Lee Jersey , better to allow the caller to leave a message than risk taking out your frustrations on the caller. Hanging Up Before The Customer
When you hang up the phone before the customer does, you risk the client hearing comments that aren't meant for hisher ears. "That Jim is such an idiot. How dare he try to haggle over price after three months of negotiations! Oh, hi, Jim. I didn't realize you were still on the line." Oops, how embarrassing! I have personally heard some very interesting and embarrassing conversations begun before I hung up Wholesale Charles Oakley Jersey , and I can assure you I took my business elsewhere because of it. The Noisy Hang Up
You've heard the crackle before –a page is sent over the public address system and at the end of the message you hear what sounds like a shot put thrown at the Olympic games. When the phone is disconnected, it sounds as if the handset was thrown halfway across the room. A better and quieter solution is to click the release or switch hook button first and then put the handset down into place. . [url=http://www.whol