1 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office, 2 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the 3 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: new world of work, where location and hours are more 4 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: flexible than in the past. Today's tip is to find 5 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: ways to put yourself at ease about picking up the phone. 6 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:30,639 Speaker 1: Email can be easy to misinterpret, and work often goes 7 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: better when we engage in real time conversation. But a 8 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: lot of people feel anxious about calling people. I want 9 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: to help you get over that. There are a lot 10 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: of things you can do to get more comfortable with dialing. 11 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: For starters, if you feel shy about calling someone without 12 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: a scheduled appointment, try sending an email an hour or 13 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: so before saying that you'll be calling and identifying the reason. 14 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: That way, you know they probably won't be surprised when 15 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: they pick up the phone, so you'll feel less awkward. Hi, Sally, 16 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: you might write thanks for sending these documents. I have 17 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: a couple of questions about the program participants section, so 18 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: I'll give you a call this afternoon or good morning, Marcos. 19 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: I'm preparing for the Williams pitch and i'd love to 20 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: get your feedback on an idea I'll give you a 21 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: call later this morning. It's a lot less intimidating to 22 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: call someone who is expecting you, and a bonus if 23 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 1: you have a tendency to delay making calls that you're 24 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: nervous about. By sending the email, you have made a commitment, 25 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: so you're less likely to put it off. Notice that 26 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: in those examples of emails, you did not ask whether 27 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: it would be okay to call. Asking if it's okay 28 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: just generates more email back and forth. Unnecessarily. Of course, 29 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: it is okay to call a colleague unless you've gotten 30 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: some really clear indication otherwise, And if a colleague tells 31 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: you not to call, well that is a little strange. 32 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: You also did not see just a specific time. You 33 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: are not scheduling a call. You're simply letting them know 34 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: you'll call. That gives you both flexibility. If they're available, great, 35 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 1: If not, no big deal. You'll just call back another 36 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: time or ask them to give you a call. When 37 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: you do get around to making the call. It can 38 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: be helpful to have a conversation starter ready. People are busy, 39 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: and this isn't a social call. You are at work, 40 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: so you don't need to engage in a lengthy interview, 41 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: but knowing that you're calling an avid gardener so it 42 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: might be good to ask about the tomato crop could 43 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: go a long way toward making the first few seconds 44 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: less awkward and finally, smile. Salespeople have long been told 45 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 1: to smile and dial, with the understanding that feeling upbeat 46 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: and cheerful increases the chances of a good conversation. It 47 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: doesn't matter that the other person can't actually see your smile. 48 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: You'll feel better and that's really most of the battle. 49 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: In the meantime, this is Laura, thanks for listening, and 50 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: here's the succeeding in the New Corner Office. The New 51 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: Corner Office is a production of I Heart Radio. For 52 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: more podcasts, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 53 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your favorite shows.