Monday, May 25, 2009

How to Get Off a Phone Call Politely

  • Keep your cool. It's best to be polite.
  • Tell the truth when you can. For example, "Pepper, I have to get back to work," or "Dad, dear, I gotta run, the twins are eating my loose change."
  • Be firm, especially at work if you're needed elsewhere. "Thanks for calling, but I have a speech to give right now and I must go."
  • Be more insistent than the telemarketer, the complainer, the fundraiser or the muckraker when they call. Get creative if you don't like the idea of out-and-out lies.
  • Interrupt the chatter, if need be, and let the caller know his or her time is up. A phone abuser is wasting your time.
  • Provide the caller with a better time to call, if you're so inclined. Or provide another option for communication, such as an e-mail address, a P.O. box or a better person to contact.
  • Give the caller one warning: "I am hanging up in 30 seconds; call our support center if there's another issue."
  • Hang up if the person on the other end of the line absolutely will not give up.

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