Give yourself a call

Do you know what it is like to get a hold of you? Have you ever tried calling yourself at work? My guess is you haven’t in a very long time…if ever.

So when you finish reading this and have a few spare minutes, depending on the size of your company complete the following steps and then consider the questions I ask.

1. Call the main number for your business and follow the process of being transferred to your extension.
* Be aware of the number of rings it took to connect the call.
* If it is being answered by a live voice, are you proud of how their “sound and greeting” represents your company?
* If you were greeted by a recording, how easy are the menu options to follow?

Pet Peeve: Why is the most likely menu choice often the very last option? For example, when leaving a message you are taken through a series of prompts from marking it urgent, private, etc. with “send” as the last selection instead of the first. Or there are so many options, you actually have to either write them down or listen to them a second time to get it right.

2. Call your direct line.
* Again, note the number of rings and if answered by someone, did you like what you heard?
* If it went to a recording, how clear is the outgoing message and how current?

Pet Peeve: People that date their outgoing message and then don’t update it; i.e. a message that states “I will be out of the office Monday and Tuesday and back on Wednesday” is still playing on Friday. Live voices that sound miserable over the phone...why on earth does any business owner or department head allow people that have no personality be the first sound a caller hears is beyond me.

3. Call your cell phone.
* In addition to the amount of rings how was the tone of your voice during your outgoing message?
* Does the caller have enough time to leave a message or are they cut off midway?

Pet peeve: When people leave me a message and fire off their phone number so fast I have to play it back several times to get the whole thing. When leaving your number ALWAYS repeat is twice, slowly and distinctly.

Whether you are the business, own a business with people working for you or work in corporate America make sure the process of reaching you is painless and represents you in a positive manner.