Comments on: Giving Good Phone https://wordsonpageblog.com/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html a freelance writing resource. Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:29:51 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anne Wayman https://wordsonpageblog.com/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html#comment-11261 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:29:51 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html/#comment-11261 Thanks Lori, and so quick too.

More than people who are late, the folks that bother me the most during phone meetings are those who ramble… I think actually using a timer can help. Give everyone 3 or 5 minutes… and go from there.

Of course even worse are the late ones who ask for a summary of what happened before they got there and the folks who are willing to give it to them.

I do know how to interrupt. 😉

]]> By: Lori https://wordsonpageblog.com/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html#comment-11260 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:23:40 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html/#comment-11260 Kim, that's not to say it will work every time, but there are times you just HAVE to interrupt!

]]> By: Kimberly Ben https://wordsonpageblog.com/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html#comment-11259 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:57:02 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html/#comment-11259 A thousand times thank you for that derailment tip!

]]> By: Lori https://wordsonpageblog.com/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html#comment-11258 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:19:47 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html/#comment-11258 Paula, my worst interview used to be the guy who shouted louder every time I tried to tell him we were off topic (and we were off topic instantly). However, there was a guy Devon actually rescued me from a few years back. He would NOT shut up. I warned him three times I had to get off the phone, but he never heard. Devon called and I used her beeps as excuses to get my "other client call." The next time I called him, I told him I had just 15 minutes. Should have heard his voice – all dejected. "That won't be enough time." We were done in 10 minutes and it was more than enough time. It was a freaking resume job! LOL

]]> By: Lori https://wordsonpageblog.com/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html#comment-11257 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:17:22 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html/#comment-11257 Cathy, great tips. Only one time did my asking the non-talker questions backfire. Every time I tried, the squawker talked right over him. I got maybe a sentence out of the poor guy before his colleague dominated. There comes a point when the interviewee has to grow a set too, I think!

Devon, I agree. There's such a small percentage of actually useful phone calls that I can't see the reason for many of them.

]]> By: Paula https://wordsonpageblog.com/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html#comment-11256 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:12:00 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html/#comment-11256 While they aren't meetings with agendas, I do tons of phone interviews. Most go really well, but occasionally you get folks who veer off topic. (Every now and then they might say something that leads to a spin-off idea, but that's very rare.) Usually you can interrupt, but every so often there's a talked who cannot be talked over. Argh. That's what fast-forward is for.

I've noticed call lengths vary greatly by industry. Some people feel the need to go into minute detail and explain everything about how their entire industry works. Others just assume you know the basics and get to the point. They're my favorites!

I have about a dozen interviews to do this week and early next week for two very different articles. I already know which will be productive 15-minute calls and which I'll need to work hard to keep on schedule. I have one of each scheduled for today.

]]> By: Devon Ellington https://wordsonpageblog.com/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html#comment-11255 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:14:09 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html/#comment-11255 Like I said yesterday, I don't do business by phone, except in unusual circumstances, as with my ghostwriting client, and an agent who gave me a quote for an article. We'd booked a 20 minute phone date, and we were both so organized we knocked off all the topics in 3 minutes and made plans to get together when I'm in CT next month!

Other than that, 99.9% of phone conferences are a waste of time.

]]> By: Cathy Miller https://wordsonpageblog.com/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html#comment-11254 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:02:59 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2012/08/giving-good-phone.html/#comment-11254 I have participated in many, many phone conferences. The ones that are the most frustrating are those where the participants are late or don't show up at all.

For the ones where they don't show up, I send an email about 10 minutes into the call with a "Are we still on for today's call?" in the subject line. Almost always gets a response-either reschedule…grrr…or will call in at such and such a time.

For those that are late, the clear end time you describe, Lori, still applies.

I agree it's essential to have talking points. If my client doesn't send them to me, I bullet point the talking points prior to the meeting.

Something I find very helpful is one client (whom I love!) records the calls and shoots me a copy after the call. There's something about being recorded that tends to keep people on track.

If there's someone dominating the conversation, I come up with questions that I direct to another participant.

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