Just Write Communications
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Clients
  • Testimonials
  • Writing Tips
  • Weekly Chuckle
  • Meals We Steal
  • Bad Golf

Responsible Phone Answering

9/24/2017

0 Comments

 
​One of the qualities we seemed to have lost in recent years in the United States is responsibly answering our phones. The smart phone (or home phone for that matter) has become a device to hide behind. We look to see who is calling and choose not to pick up most of the time.

If it’s someone we know or we feel like talking or we’re expecting a special ring, we may answer. Otherwise, we let the message slide to voice mail. Then, we either ignore it until the person calls us again, or if we remember and are committed to getting back to someone who has reached out, we eventually get around to replying.

This is not true for everyone. Nor is it true in all circumstances. Based on extensively paying attention to how people from all walks of life respond to my calls in different venues, I would say with extreme confidence that most people fall into the irresponsible phone answering category.
 
It bugs me. It bugs other people I chat with about this issue. It makes friendships harder and doing business effectively more complicated and less efficient. Calling back over and over to get a simple answer or task accomplished makes no sense. Yet you must do it all too frequently to reach many people.
 
Recently I was doing an interview for a magazine I write for. The story dealt with basketball officials who’d been running up and down the court for over 40 years. Each guy interviewed was at least 60-years-old, and two were over 70.
 
Do you think they answered their phones? Absolutely! As I interviewed each and found they picked up their home line or cell phone after a couple of rings, the trend struck me as generational. Raised to answer the phone, each of these men continued to do so, and politely responded to my inquiry.


 
They did not know my number. They didn’t screen the name, figuring it was someone they didn’t know. Instead, they politely listened to my pitch, then nicely answered my questions. To a man, we had great conversations. We laughed. They told stories. We related.
 
As the trend grew throughout the 14 interviews conducted, I started to ask each guy if he noticed a similar trend. They agreed that many people don’t answer their phones right away, but they felt it was courteous and the right thing to do by picking up the line to see who was there.

I understand the pesky calls are a pain. No one wants a robo call or some dang salesman pitching ear wax removal. The slick talking guy trying to get you to donate to some cause you know nothing about irritates us all. It’s easy enough to hang up on those people after telling them you’re not interested.
 
On the other hand, if you’re honestly trying to reach someone for a good reason, it feels spectacular when he picks up the phone on the first couple of rings, listens to what you have to say, and replies, “How can I help?” It’s refreshing.

Those interviews made my day. Their responsiveness simplified my life and made my job easier. We bonded. Some of that was generational, no question.
 
Give it a shot. Maybe you’ll meet some other people like you. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All

Proudly powered by Weebly