In an age where people send text messages or simply send photos of where they are to their friends on social media, it is not surprising that people have forgotten how to speak on the phone. Instead of talking in a polite and professional tone, some people use slang or speak in exasperated tones while communicating on the phone.
Telephone Etiquette Is Easy to Learn
The good news is that learning how to talk on the telephone isn’t as hard as it may appear. As you will learn in most etiquette classes, the most important thing that you will learn is how to stay patient when someone has a long-winded question, learn how to reply concisely and politely and how to ask for clarification if you don’t understand what the person on the other line is saying.
This Etiquette Can Be Extended to Other Forms of Communication
The way that you talk on the phone is more or less an extension of the way that you should talk to people in any sort of conversation. When you write a letter, you should always address the recipient as Mr., Ms. or Mrs. The letter should then state what you are trying to tell the person and what sort of action that you would like the person to take in response. The action that you want the reader to take can be anything from simply responding to your letter to clarifying past remarks or asking for information from a third-party.
Clear and Concise Communication Saves Time and Energy
It is important to say as much as possible in as few words as possible to ensure that you don’t come off as boring and lose the attention of your audience. By using a single paragraph instead of a page to list a concern or suggest an idea, you make it easy for the recipient or recipients to know what you hope to get from them.
Etiquette is something that you can learn quickly if you are interested in learning about it. In just a few classes, you can come off as well-mannered and respectful whether you are talking on the phone, in person or through written communication with another person.