Same job, different uniform.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

girlfriday:basic telephone etiquette

When I call and announce myself, do not say, "Uh huh."

Remember You've Got Mail, when Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) lashes out at Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) when he tells her to "Just call [him] Joe."

"As though you were one of those stupid 22 year old girls with no last name? Hi, I'm Kimberly, hi I'm Janice. Don't they know you're supposed to have a last name? It's like they're an entire generation of cocktail waitresses."

When you say "uh huh" after I tell you who I am, I think of Kathleen Kelly. And I wonder why, after the hundreds of business calls you've made and answered, you haven't learned how to avoid sounding like a 14 year old.

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10 Comments:

Blogger Hobster said...




uh huh

Thursday, January 24, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...




I am sorry but what has made you so important that I should recognize and remember your name?
Not trying to be rude but just because you answer a phone doesn't make you special. Especially in this day...

Thursday, January 24, 2008

 
Blogger "Molly McGee" said...




It doesn't matter if she is not important enough to remember her name. One should always act like they know what is going on, even if they don't. Then they don't sound like a 14 year old.

Friday, January 25, 2008

 
Blogger girlfriday said...




Hi Laura,

Maybe I didn't make it clear that I have already announced myself and who I'm calling with.

You don't have to remember who I am. You don't even have to fake it. What I am suggesting is you use words instead of grunts.

Here are some examples:

"Yes?"
"Hi Kate"
"Hi Kate. I'm sorry, who are you with again?"

The crime is especially aggregious when you are a client of the company I'm calling from. An active client.

Friday, January 25, 2008

 
Blogger elphaba said...




Like I tell my four year old...use your words.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

 
Blogger JEB said...




Does this open the door for me to comment on cell phone etiquette?

Saturday, January 26, 2008

 
Blogger Susan a.k.a Lucy said...




You are so right! This reminds me of another thing I don't get...when you say thank you to a store clerk (or anybody) and they say "uh huh" is it just me or is that so wrong? Whatever happened to "you're welcome" or "my pleasure" or "glad to be of service"....

Sunday, January 27, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...




When studying language (briefly) I found that dialects change due to laziness (Washington Mutual becomes ‘WaMu’, or Eagle Nazarene being named ‘EagleNaz”).
So it is with this generation, I believe. 50 years ago it would have been atrocious to not greet and show respect to anyone, especially in customer service or on the phone.
I am just trying to be realistic. What can we expect? We live in a fast paced society now, not one that is concerned about humanity or being polite.
I do believe girlfriday is important but I know her. I have had conversation with her. Someone else...I don't know. I understand this person is a client but the receptionist’s rudeness should fall upon his/her boss, not she/he alone. After all...she wasn't hired on her own... and the word is ‘egregious’. Not to imply ignorance, but everyone is capable of making mistakes or hesitating in their own way.
Maybe the person was having a bad day, or possibly this person was a temp. Sometimes my best friend’s don’t recall my voice and I have been accused of being rude for expecting them to know who I am without announcing my name, yet I speak to them almost everyday. We all live in a fallen world with sin and everyone participates in their own way.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

 
Blogger girlfriday said...




Laura, I'm not sure I follow. Sorry! Maybe I'm being obtuse.

Lots of people grunt when they answer the phone and it aggravates me to no end. GREET ME, DANG YOU.

or maybe I'm being nitpicky. Take it with a grain of salt if you think it's best.

Susan--Once again, we agree.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

 
Blogger "Molly McGee" said...




gf - I said "uh-huh" to a client on the phone today. Please still be my sister.

Oh. And thanks for pimping my blog.

Friday, February 01, 2008

 

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