The dreaded phone. Depending on what business you're in you may experience the following:

The phone constantly ringing and therefore stops you from doing your work.
You're ecstatic because it contantly rings with orders and enquiries for your goods and services.
Suicidal tendencies because it doesn't ring and nobody loves you.
With the wonders of today's technology sometimes it is very difficult to contact another human being. "Voice mail" has taken over. It has replaced the human connection. It is very frustrating to contact someone in an organisation and constantly get their voicemail. It's worse when you actually leave a message or three and that person never returns your calls.

A number of thoughts go through your mind when this situation occurs including:

That person is not interested in you
That person is disorganised.
They're too busy and don't need or want your business.
They are avoiding you.
They're unreliable
I've been in situations where I've contacted people to refer work to them but unfortunately (for them) they haven't returned my calls. It not only gives a negative impression of them but also their organisation.

HOW MUCH BUSINESS DO YOU LOSE BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T RETURNED PHONE CALLS?

If you're unable to return calls within a reasonable timeframe (ask one of your team (if you have other staff) to ring back on your behalf and say "Mary will be unable to return your call as she is visiting clients until ... Can someone else help you or shall I get her to contact you on her return?
Leave a message on your voice mail stating when you will be available.
If you're a one man/woman band plan time each day to return calls.
If you're the boss, teach people in your organisation about how to use the telephone. Training in this area is vital to create a psoi
So how much potential business is your organisation losing every week? It could run into thousands of dollars a year... yet you'll never know!



About the Author
Lorraine Pirihi is Australia's Personal Productivity Specialist and Leading Life Coach. Her business The Office Organiser specialises in showing small business owners and managers, how to get organised at work so they can have a life! Lorraine is also a dynamic speaker and has produced many products including "How to Survive and Thrive at Work!"

To subscribe to her free ezine visit www.office-organiser.com.au