At our virtual receptionist service, theย Rubyยฎย crewย takesย pride in being charming,ย friendly, and professional during every call. Our telephone answeringย connoisseurs usually chat with callers one-on-one, but we revel in the chance to wow a group of people when we receive the occasional speakerphone call. If you use a speakerphone often, try these four tips to add a little Ruby-style charm to your routine:
Ask first. Before placing someone on speakerphone, ask permission, and introduce anyone in earshot. โWould you mind if I put you on speakerphone? Tim and I are in the room, and Iโd love for him to be a part of our conversation.โย If the person youโre speaking with doesnโt wish to be placed on speakerphone, donโt put โem on speakerphone! It may not be the most convenient thing for you, but youโll build rapport by respecting your colleagueโs wishes.
Introduce. If you need to generate a call on speakerphone, always alert the person youโre calling right off the bat, and include an opt-out:
ย โHi, Susan! I have you on speakerphone because I am driving. Please let me know if you have any trouble hearing me.โ
โHi, Kevin!ย Claire and I are here, and we have you on speakerphone. If this is a bad time for you, just let us know!โ
Broach the subject. If you receive a call and hear that telltale speakerphone echo, try inquiring with this polite question: โMay I ask if Iโm on speakerphone? Iโd love to say hello to anyone who is part of the conversation!โ
Limit background noise. When on the speaker-end of a speakerphone call, be mindful of any noise you create โ if youโre rustling papersย or moving about the room, you may sound like youโre not devoting your attention to theย folks youโreย chatting with.
Do you have any speakerphone etiquette tips to share with our phone answering team? Leave a comment below!
