Have you had the experience of calling someone and they answer with a rather curt, “What's up?” greeting?
I recently did and it inspired me to write about answering the phone properly. Whether a mobile phone or landline, what happened to the common courtesy of answering a phone properly?
No matter how bad your day is, the “What’s up?” terse greeting is quite “off-putting” to the person who is calling. I assume that this unfriendly greeting is meant to insinuate that one is too busy to talk at the moment, or not in a good place emotionally (if you know what I mean!). Either way, it is synonymous with rude behavior.
An alternative greeting? A simple, “Hello, so and so… may I call you back? It’s not a good time for me to talk right now.” Or, “I wish I could talk, but can’t right now.” Both are thoughtful ways to relay to the caller it is not a good time, but that you appreciate their call to you.
What about when someone hangs up on you before you were finished with your call?
When you’re ready to end a call, be sure to say, “Goodbye!” Often, people are too busy and just hang up without these closing words. They “assume” the conversation is over… but the other person may have something else to say. Give them the courtesy of saying goodbye, before abruptly hanging up.
Have you ever called a household and a young child picks up the phone and proceeds to yell into your ear as they call their parents name into the phone?
Children are not born with good manners and polite responses. They are taught these courtesies! My dear friend, Nancy Wall’s two little girls answered the home phone politely, with a “hello” and “one moment please,” as they went to get their parents. And, if the caller inquired how they were, they always responded with a “Fine, thank you! How are you?” Did this polite behavior just “happen?” No, she taught them, reaffirming that graciousness starts at home.
Let’s remind ourselves, and our children, about the simple gestures of telephone genteelness… ring, ring!
Xx
Holly
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