Telephone Etiquette

Telephone etiquette seems to be lacking these days- and I get a birds-eye view of its lack! What, you may be asking yourself, makes me think I am such a specialist on this subject? A person doesn’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure it out! What I propose for all of my readers is that you allow yourself to be re-educated in the art of telephone etiquette.

It doesn’t take a degree in social etiquette to know that when you answer the phone, you should identify yourself. And yet, millions of people in this wonderful country of ours have forgotten this long-lost “art”! When you answer the phone, you say, “Hello, this is Paul”- or whatever your name is. This is a common-sense courtesy we should all be giving one another.

Don’t just assume that when you call your brothers apartment, that he will answer. Or your mothers’ house. Or that direct line to the phone on your dad’s desk at the law office. Someone else may pick up that phone. If it’s me, I will say “Hi, this is Paul!” And please, would you mind saying something similar? Like “Hi, this is Suzy calling; is Pete there?” It won’t hurt you and it only takes a moment.

Why the big deal?

I answer the phones all day long. I am a “Communications Coordinator”- (switchboard operator) at the corporate office of a big utility company. We are a provider of electric service and gas service also. Believe me, I get an earful! And I just keep learning! The educational process never ceases!

People call to ask to talk to an executive. I have rules and procedures. You talk to an administrative assistant. People call to talk to someone in particular! No problem. I connect you. Still others call and ask to talk to someone who knows something about purchasing of excess pipeline material… aha! Purchasing has a generic number for vendors. I can’t give that number out. But I will connect you with that line. Leave a message and be pleasant!