Simple Tips to Sounding Professional on the Phone

For the past ten years, just about every job I have had consisted of a generous amount of time spent on the phone. I have gone from being a receptionist, to a recruiter, to making outgoing customer service calls. These positions have given me countless opportunities to interact with all kinds of different people and to develop pet peeves of my own about the way people communicate over the phone in a business setting. Here, I will explain different rules and techniques you can use to sound your best and most professional.

Slang = Laziness(?)

First and foremost, let's talk about slang. This is a NO-NO! Unless you have a close relationship with the other person and there really aren't any business boundaries to be crossed, DO NOT USE SLANG. This is just tacky and causes the person on the other end to see you as unprofessional, childish, and someone who does not know how to conduct themselves in a business setting. This issue is bigger than race or culture. I have talked to people of various cultures who say "ain't" and "ya'll". It just sounds lazy. Why can't you just say "isn't, is not, are not, aren't"?

Justification for Elementary School English Class

Another no-no is plain old poor grammar. I can't tell you how many times I have been in the middle of a decent phone conversation with another professional when, suddenly, they use the god-awful, "he don't," or "they wasn't," or even double negatives! It drives me nuts. Remember your third grade English class, people! Just think before you speak. Here's a tip, it always sounds better to correct a glaring grammar mistake than to just let it hang in the air. I hate to say it, but I lose a little respect for people who can't remember some of the most basic rules of grammar.

It's All In Your Head

Remember, how you talk to your family and friends at home must be different than how you communicate at work. (Unless of course you always speak correct and proper English.) Before you start your work day, whether you are working from home, or at an outside office, try adjusting your mindset. Picture yourself as a news anchor. Sit up straight. Smile. Take a deep breath. These things will help you to fall into a more professional mindset which, in turn, will have you communicating more effectively.

Whether you are looking for your first white-collar job, or are already established, but continue to be looked over for promotions, proper communication is the key. Think about it, the higher up you are, the more public speaking you will need to do. How many companies do you think want a vice-president complimenting a CEO saying, "...and she don't never treat her employees bad..."?