Using the Phone Effectively

Etiquette and Best Practices

Communicate effectively by phone.

© iStockphoto/Geber86

How much time do you spend on the phone each day?

Maybe you use it to talk to your boss, consult with clients, coach team members, or handle crises. But are you using the phone effectively?

Or do you try to avoid calling people, opting instead for email or instant messaging (IM)?

Whether you use a landline, cellphone, or a service like Skype to make calls, it's likely that you could benefit from refreshing your phone skills.

In this article, we'll look at why good phone skills are important. We'll also discuss how to communicate clearly, and how to practice good etiquette when you use the phone.

... for the complete article:

Mind Tools members, click here.

Join the Mind Tools Club to finish this article AND get 1,000 more resources

Join now for just $1, first month

"When I started using Mind Tools, I was not in a supervisory position. Now I am. Along with that came a 12% increase in salary."
– Pat Degan, Houston, USA

Join the Mind Tools Club

The Mind Tools Club gives you much, much more than you get here on the basic Mind Tools site, including these 4 free workbooks.

And if you join before midnight on June 27, we'll also give you our Motivate Your Team workbook.

Find out what you get