Have you ever called a business and the person answering the phone sounded rude…maybe even angry? Maybe you visited a business and the person greeting you wasn’t very friendly.
How did that make you feel? I don’t know about you, but I don’t tend to go back to businesses like that.
What if it is your business that is perpetrating these behaviors?
I will never forget my first design job working as a student worker then Assistant Designer in the Facilities Planning and Construction Department with the Texas A&M University System. One day, the Department had EVERYBODY attend telephone training. We had engineers, architects, interior designers, surveyors, office personnel, you name the position and they were there. If you were remotely close to a phone at any point during the course of your duties, you attended this class.
I don’t know about you, but I felt pretty confident about picking up a phone and saying “Hello.” During that class, I learned one of the most important business tips everybody should know…
Whether on the phone or greeting a client in person: Always sit up (or stand up) straight and Smile.
Yes, you heard me right…Smile.
People who smile while talking make a better first impression – they seem more confident and friendly. You can even “hear” a smile over the phone. Don’t believe me? Get your cell phone out and use the recorder to practice answering the phone: once not smiling and once smiling. You’ll hear the difference. If you smile while talking, the tone of your voice will lighten and you’ll be able to make a better connection with people.
Use this FREE marketing tip to improve your client relations. The added benefit of smiling at work…
“Happiness at work is closely correlated with greater performance and productivity as well as greater energy, better reviews, faster promotion, higher income, better health and increased happiness with life. So it’s good for organizations and individuals, too.” Jessica Pryce-Jones, author of Happiness at Work.