chirped. This is Felicia. Im either away from my desk or on the other
line right now, but leave your message at the tone. Beep. Felicia, of course
youre away from your deskits 4 a.m. on Suday morning! On the other line?
At this hour? I hope not!
You never know how your message is going to affect somone. Just keep
yours neutral, friendly, constantly changing, short, and understated. No
boasts, no bells, no whistles.
Technique #66
Constantly Changing Outgoing Message
If you want to be perceived as conscientious and reliable, leave a short,
professional, and friendly greeting as your outgoing message. No music. No
jokes. No inspirational messages. No boasts, bells, or whistles. And heres
the secret: change it every day. Your message doesnt have to be flawless. A
little cough or stammer gives a lovely unpretentious reality to your
message.
How to Get Them to Call You Back
Producers of big Broadway musicals can be brutal during audtions. An
anxious wanna-be star, after rehearsing his audition song for weeks, steps
onstage. He opens his mouth to sing. After a few notes, the heartless
producer shouts, Thank you. NEEEXXXT! Dreams of stardom dashed in
ten seconds!
Businesspeoples professional dreams can also be dashed in the first ten
seconds of their audition. Their audition is the message they leave on
someone elses answering machine.
Competent businesspeople wouldnt dream of sending a messy
handwritten business letter to a VIP on cheap yellow-stained paper and
expect a response. They know the recipient would toss it in the trash.
Nevertheless, some of these same folks will leave a lacluster message on a
VIPs voice mail and expect a callback. No one ever told them that big
winners scrutinize messages on their voice mail with the same
consideration of a big Broadway producer. If you sound good, youve got a
chance. If you dont, you are fasforwarded out of their life.
Salespeople, suitors, candidates, and competitors who leave crisp,
intelligent, upbeat messages on voice mail get called back. Losers with
lackluster tones and uncrafted messages never hear from Mr. or Ms. Make
It Happen. Make sure your message
252
ooja
(Ooja)
#1