How do you balance phone calls and priorities?

1 Plan your calls

Before you make or take a phone call, ask yourself if it is necessary, urgent, or important. If it is not, consider postponing it, sending an email, or using another communication channel instead. If it is, prepare an agenda, set a time limit, and inform the other party of your expectations and availability. This way, you can avoid unnecessary interruptions, stay focused, and achieve your goals.

2 Minimize distractions

When you are on a phone call, make sure you are in a quiet and comfortable environment, where you can hear and speak clearly. Turn off or mute any notifications, alerts, or background noises that might distract you or the other person. Also, avoid multitasking, checking your email, or browsing the web while on the phone. Give your full attention to the conversation and show respect and professionalism.

3 Follow up and confirm

After a phone call, it is good practice to follow up with a summary, confirmation, or action plan, depending on the purpose and outcome of the call. This can be done via email, text, or another preferred method. By following up, you can ensure that both parties are on the same page, avoid misunderstandings, and keep track of your progress and responsibilities.

4 Schedule your work

To balance your phone calls and priorities, you need to have a clear and realistic schedule of your work. Use a calendar, planner, or app to organize your tasks, deadlines, and appointments. Prioritize your most important and urgent tasks and allocate enough time and resources for them. Also, leave some buffer time for unexpected calls, emergencies, or changes. Review your schedule regularly and adjust it as needed.

5 Communicate your boundaries

One of the challenges of remote work is setting and communicating your boundaries with your colleagues, clients, and managers. You need to establish when, how, and why you are available for phone calls and when you are not. You can do this by updating your status, sending an auto-reply, or setting a voicemail message. You can also politely decline or reschedule calls that are not urgent or relevant. By communicating your boundaries, you can protect your work-life balance and prevent burnout.

6 Seek feedback and improve

Finally, you can balance your phone calls and priorities by seeking feedback and improving your phone etiquette. Ask for feedback from your peers, managers, or mentors on how you handle phone calls and what you can do better. You can also record and review your own calls and identify your strengths and weaknesses. Learn from your mistakes, apply best practices, and keep improving your skills and performance.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?