When using the phone can be less than helpful
Almost all of the posts written here on this site to date have advocated the use of the telephone in a variety of situations. This one breaks the mould in that its purpose is to highlight when using the phone can be more of a hindrance than a help.
For many of us, the default reaction to a variety of situations is to pick up the telephone and call someone. Here are some situations where using the telephone may be considered less than productive:
- In response to an interesting post or comment on a blog. The blog has been posted to encourage and stimulate conversation online. Why not join that conversation where several people can view and comment on your contribution too?
- Calling on professional people without stating any purpose or agenda for the call. If you cannot quickly articulate purpose and value for both parties when making a call, it’s better to avoid making the call.
- In response to online profiles or advertisements (e.g. online networks or job postings) where it has been clearly expressed that no calls should be made to the person posting the profile or advertisement. It tends to upset people to the extent that they think of you in an exclusively negative light. Where possible, why not send an email explaining why you believe there will be great value for both of you to speak rather than communicating purely by written means? You may also ask some questions relating to what they are trying to achieve in their role.
- Whilst this is rare, it has been known to happen: Insisting that people contact you exclusively by telephone. The late Marshall McLuhan said “The medium is the message” and it’s important to observe that for other people, some of whom you’d like to do business with, their preferred method of communication is by means other than the telephone. If you have too many people competing for telephone time with you, you may run the risk of being unable to respond adequately to everyone and being overwhelmed yourself. Some people will feel left out when they’re repeatedly treated to your voicemail greeting and may just give up trying to contact you altogether.
Some of you reading this may have other situations to add to this list. We’d be grateful if you’d share. It’s always a privilege to hear from you so feel free to add your pet peeves about what you deem to be inappropriate use use of the telephone.
Copyright: Shaun Gisbourne 2009
Call +44 208 133 0702 or +44 203 348 8702.
Email: shaun@phoneforbusiness.com
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