How to leave a good phone message
1. Give important information, like your phone number, at least two times, especially if you are calling from a cell phone. Signals do occasionally break up, and the person may not have caller ID.
2. Speak slowly and clearly. Don’t force the recipient to play back your message to understand what you’ve said. Relax, take a deep breath, and speak clearly.
3. Be concise. Get to your point immediately, ask for the call back, then get out. You can say a lot in about 20 seconds. Save the full report for the phone conversation. The recipient has many other things to do, including retrieving other messages. Be considerate. Speak your piece, then be gone.
For additional advice on communicating well, see “Edit thoroughly for clean, professional copy” and “Minimize jargon to ensure a clearer message.”
What has been your experiences with phone messages? Anything you’d like to add to this list? Feel free to comment below. If you liked this column, could I ask you to share it with others? Thanks.
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