101: Leaving A Voicemail
These days, it's rare to actually get a real person on the phone when you call them on your first try. Could your message-leaving skills use some refining? Or maybe you've been victim to the "number hit-and-run": when a caller says their phone digits so fast you have to replay the message three times before you have the information needed to actually return the call. Here are three ways to leave more professional, functional phone messages:
Do a test. We're all busy, and often we aren't aware if we're speaking too quickly or mumbling on voicemail. Enlist a friend for help, says James Bucki in an article at About.com. "Call him and leave a fabricated voicemail message on their phone," he advises. After you get your friend's evaluation on your message, play it back for yourself. Do you sound clear? Professional?
No small talk. No one likes a rambling phone message. "Be brief and get to the point," says a BusinessKnowHow.com article by Karl Walinskas. "Don't begin your voicemail with small talk, jokes or other needless filler words," he advises. Remember: Your message may be one of many the caller receives, so by all means be friendly, but prioritize identifying yourself and your reason for calling.
Set out times to reach you. It's a good idea to give them time frames where they can contact you, says an article by Paul Cherry at PBResults.com. For example: "I can be reached between 3 and 5 p.m. today or between 10 a.m. and noon on Monday." This creates some sense of urgency, and is helpful for the scheduling purposes of the person you're trying to reach. "After all, you're a busy professional in high demand, so your voice must communicate those qualities," Cherry writes.
Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
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