According to Keith Harrell; “A positive attitude is still
undeniably the most valuable asset you can ever choose to treasure. It is the
most basic ingredient to every success story in this planet”[i].
In Public Relations, as in any other communication fields,
you’ll be requested to adopt the right attitude according to the situation.
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Photo
credits: Live Life Happy via Flickr
During my internship, I have had to do several phone calls.
What’s the right attitude to adopt in such case?
Let me share with you my experience and what I’ve learned.
Some may say that this is a simple exercise whereas others
might admit that it can be a perilous one too.
You probably must have heard the saying that “Making a
great first impression is imperative to becoming an influential leader”[ii].
“The fact is that when you first meet a person, he makes a
judgment about you in approximately four seconds, and his judgment is finalized
largely within 30 seconds of the initial contact”[iii]. So you do not have much
time to impress this person.
This gets even more challenging through phone calls, since
your interlocutor cannot see you. He will only be able to forge his first
impression through the tone you adopt.
A telephone call can disturb. It can cause an interruption
in an already "overscheduled” or “congested” agenda. Therefore be polite
and excuse yourself for disturbing. Take the time to introduce yourself and aim
at starting to build a trusting relationship with the other person on the phone
though you cannot see him.
Once those courtesy steps are undergone, do not jump
directly to the object of your call. Start by putting your interlocutor at ease
and create a conducive environment for better communication. Remember that the
way you speak over the telephone will convey the largest part of your message.
The way you answer the
phone also sets the stage for the other person’s experience with you. So the
way you talk will either enable you to communicate positive energy resulting in
positive responses or negative energy yielding negative responses.
During my placement I tried implementing those tactics and
the result was excellent.
Before making a call, just remember that overcoming your
fears and leaving your comfort zone is really important to be able to achieve
your goals.
Photo
credits: BK via Flickr
A telephone conversation is conversing with somebody else.
As such try to be as natural as you would be in a visual conversation. Though
it might seem absurd, do not hesitate to smile when the conversation invites to
smiling.
[i] http://onlineaccesscenter.com/bmm/library1/Attitude%20is%20Everything.pdf
[ii] http://www.briantracy.com/blog/leadership-success/the-importance-of-a-first-impression-everything-counts-personal-statement/
[iii] http://www.briantracy.com/blog/leadership-success/the-importance-of-a-first-impression-everything-counts-personal-statement/
