'Doing Business On The Phone - A Forgotten Option'

Lockdown is here again. Doing business requires even more imagination! And skill.

So, consider the phone - a forgotten option for some.  

No, I'm not selling phone service, this is an informed tip. In my back story, we started a telephone marketing business with friends that developed into a global brand. It was undoubtedly the brand leader in the UK for many years.

If you want to replace the sort of intimacy afforded by meeting a person face to face, then the phone offers something the computer applications do not.

Yes, the visual cues are missing.

But breath, words, tone, and tempo are more comfortable to track, especially one to one. The phone amplifies your focus and the subtle cues that help you to understand what is said - and do business effectively. 

Regardless of lockdown, I still work over the phone - for realism, confidentiality, and convenience - in preference to Zoom and other apps.  

And, this is my quaint tip for the next lockdown period, where subtleties are essential, opt for the stability of a landline.

Best wishes

Joseph

PS Although I coached and trained some of the hottest telephone salespeople in this country - many of whom went on to great things in corporate and start-up business - it was some time ago! Today, I'm using the phone to help executives to clarify their thinking and transform their performance - exploring ideas, responding to that proverbial funny feeling, and crisis management. Let me know if you want to learn more.