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Pass on information that receiver will understand, appreciate and find useful. Waffling and speaking generically will lose attention and generally reflect poorly on caller.
Good business phone etiquette demands professionalism at all times. When speaking to someone you do not know avoid informal speech or personal questions. Once a relationship has been built it is considered polite to enquire about weekends, children or other non-sensitive personal matters.
Privacy and security around furtive issues must always be borne in mind on phone. If it is imperative that sensitive discussions take place over phone, business etiquette requires that you confirm with receiver whether this is appropriate.
Be patient. Demonstrating good business etiquette relies on your staying calm, cool and collected under pressure or when facing a testing situation. Your ability to stay patient earns respect and avoids rash actions or decisions.
Although there is much more to business phone etiquette than above 7 P’s you will find they can go a long way in contributing to an improved understanding of how to use phone effectively in business world.
Neil Payne is Director of http://www.kwintessential.co.uk