“Hello, how may I assist you today?” Or “What’s up?” Phone Etiquette “Hello, how may I assist you today?” Or “What’s up?”

Making/Receiving a Call Greeting Gatekeepers Reason for calling Keep a log Closing Proper Telephone Etiquette is more important than ever in today's business environment. Much of our business communications takes place on the phone: in the office, at home, in the car, virtually anywhere. In this area, proper phone technique can make or break deals or relationships. The following are some guidelines to help you use the phone as a power tool.

Greeting First is the greeting. When answering the phone for business, be sure to identify yourself (and your company, if applicable). If answering someone else's line, be sure to include their name in your greeting, so that the other party does not think they have reached a wrong number. For example, if answering Jim Smith's line, Bob Johnson would answer the phone "Jim Smith's line, Bob Johnson speaking" and then take a message or handle the call, depending on how your office works. When making a business call, be sure to first identify yourself and your company. If you're routed to a receptionist or operator, also include the name of the person you're trying to reach. A simple, "Hello, this is Mary Robert from Off the Wall Productions. May I please speak with Mark Grand?" will do.

Gatekeepers When you are the person making the call, be sure to use proper phone etiquette from the start. You want to be sure to be polite to the "gatekeepers" i.e. Secretaries, receptionists etc. that answer the phone for your business contact, as they are the ones who have the power put you through, (or not) at 4:55 pm on Friday, when their boss is getting ready to leave the office. They may sit outside of the office, but they too have influence and power so a greeting such as "Good morning, this is Penny Jones, I'm returning a call from John Jones, is he available? is a bit of etiquette well spent in the long run. It would also be wise to learn the names of the top assistants, and use their names to make them feel noticed and important. Some business relationships, especially in fields like sales and marketing, start or stall right at the front desk.

Reason for Calling When you have reached the party, if your call has been expected, remind them of the prior conversation and appointment. People get busy and can seem surprised until you remind them of where they should remember you from. If your call is not expected, unless it will be a short call, ask the party if they have the time for you. Calling unannounced is much like "dropping in" and you shouldn't overstay unless invited. If the other person does not have time, briefly state the purpose of your call and ask for an appointment to follow up at a later time.

Log Have a phone diary. Keep a pencil and pad near the phone and jot notes during phone conversations. This will help you "actively listen" and have a reference for later. Employ active listening noises such as "yes" or "I see" or "great". This lets the other person know that you care about what they have to say. Recap at the end of the call, using your notes and repeat any resolutions or commitments on either side to be sure you are both "on the same page".

Closing End the call on a positive note by thanking the other person for their time and express an interest in speaking with them again (if that is true). If not, just let them know you appreciated them speaking with you and end the call. A gracious good bye leaves the door open for further communication and in this day of mergers and acquisitions you never know with whom you will be doing business with in the future, so burning any bridges, or telephone lines, would be unwise. Remember, in this global marketplace, some of the most powerful business relationships have been between people who have never seen each other.

“Hold, Please” The hold feature is generally considered a double-edged sword in telephone etiquette. No one is usually available at the exact moment of a phone call, and being on hold simply must be tolerated. However, there are many things the caller and the person taking the call can do to make the experience a pleasant one. If you must put someone on hold, ask first and - most importantly - wait for their answer. If someone expresses reservation about being put on hold, calmly explain why it is necessary. Perhaps the person they are calling for stepped out of the office and needs to be tracked down, or is on another call. Callers like an explanation for their inconveniences, but don't give away too much information. If Bill from distributing is in the restroom, just tell the caller he is away from his desk. Remember to keep the person on hold updated on the status of his or her call every 30 seconds. A simple "She's on another call" or "His meeting is running a little late" is sufficient. It's okay to hang up after three minutes on hold. Call back and ask to leave a message instead.

Voicemail & Messages If you have to leave a message or voice mail for someone, make it short and to the point. Speak clearly and slowly and leave your name, phone number, and a brief message. Say your name and number at the beginning and again at the end of the message, especially if you don't know the person you're calling. If the voice mail system allows you to play back your message, consider taking advantage of that feature to make sure your message is clear and communicates your needs. Returning messages promptly is always appreciated. It's customary to return telephone calls within 24 hours. If you cannot attend to the caller's needs within that time, briefly phone the person to say when you will be available.

Your Own Voicemail The message you leave as your outgoing message is an important business tool. Information is critical. The best messages communicate several key things to the person calling you: your name, the organization and/or group you're in, the current date (this tells them you are checking your messages), whether you are in the office or not that day, when to expect a call back, whom to contact if the call is urgent, and how to get to that person. This seems like an enormous burden, but it just requires a little discipline first thing every morning or last thing every night. If you've ever called someone and gotten a generic voicemail, you know how disconcerting it can be. Is the person on vacation? Will I get a call back? When? So it's especially important for people who travel frequently to attend to outgoing messages. Of course, you can simplify the approach and perhaps change your message once a week providing an update of the days you'll be out of the office that week. Any useful information in your outgoing message will make your caller feel more comfortable that the message is important and you will respond. Be sure to respond.