Dear Reader,
Does a ringing phone drive you crazy? Clients, vendors, candidates--haven't these people ever heard of email?
While the telephone is an essential tool, it can also be an incredible disruption to your time.
In this month's 60 Second Solutions, we'll show you four ways to make your calls less intrusive and more constructive.
I hope you find these ideas useful!
Regards,
Stephanie Baker
Wood Personnel Services
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4 Tips for More Efficient Phone Calls
Even in these days of email, IMs and texting, the telephone still plays a part in your business day. But if the constantly ringing phone has become the bane of your existence, it's time to make a change.
Whether you're taking or making the calls, here are four ways to make the process more efficient:
- Protect your most productive time for focused work.
If you focus best from about 9:00-11:00 in the morning, don't suggest or choose those times for phone calls whenever possible. Let unscheduled calls go to voicemail until you need to take a break from your other work, then return them.
- Don't schedule long calls.
Just because your planner comes in 30- and 60-minute blocks doesn't mean your phone calls need to. Try to keep even phone interviews to 20 minutes or less. The shorter length imposes discipline and keeps you on task.
- Suggest limited time windows.
If you have to schedule a conference call or a phone interview, create a shorter timeframe. Rather than asking for 20 minutes sometime in the next week, ask for 20 minutes on a specific day. Leaving too large a window or scheduling too far ahead of time increases the chance that someone will have something else come up. Shorter timeframes make phone calls happen.
- Try to be the one dialing.
That is, if you're a punctual person. Waiting from 1:00 to 1:06 for your phone to ring is just dead time. Yes, you can find stuff to fill it, but better to be the one keeping track of numbers and time and hence minimizing those delays.
The Biggest Interruption:
Candidate Calls (and emails)
Post a job order, and you get bombarded with calls and emails. How are you supposed to be responsive and keep up with your regular work?
Wood Personnel Services can help. As your recruiting partner, our job is to field the calls, respond to the emails, screen the resumes, and test the candidates. Our job is to ensure you only see the best people available.
If you're looking to hire--temporary or full-time--let us help make your job easier. Contact us today to learn more about our temp-to-hire and direct hire recruiting services. |
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