When my bestie Megan told me she was putting together a list of tips for other grad students/interns on how not to sound like an idiot on the phone, I said 1) BCC me on that list like whoa and 2) please let me adopt it for a blog post! She is the most organized, put-together, professional and yet incredibly fun person I know, so I can’t think of anyone better to help my readers (and me) overcome phone phobias.
Nowadays, when social movements are started on Facebook, donations are generated through membership websites, and causes are marketed on Twitter, you could argue that to participate in, well, anything, one never has to open their mouth and actually talk. Nielsen Media has found that people entering the work force today are more likely to email or text then to pick up the phone, and Pamela Paul’s New York Times article found that no one really talks on the phone any more.
Well, my summer of interning has put me in a situation where I hear people on the phone all day cultivating donors and managing volunteers.
I’m going to be honest: these folks sound downright awkward.
Talking on the phone is not natural for the majority of professionals anymore (least of all, writers), but those who can master positive phone communication end up feeling like less of a jackass than the those who always default to email.
Why is this important?
Well, for one, the agent phone call. It’s hugely important in building the working relationship you’ll need. Writers want the phone call as proof that an agent is a real, live, publishing professional, and agents want to make sure you aren’t—well, crazy.
Here some skills on how to professionally utilize the phone I learned working in the private sector that can help ease your phone phobia.
1. Stuttering.
For some reason, as soon as we get on the phone we all start to stutter. We pause….. we say “um,” and we are suddenly so unsure of the words coming out of our mouths. How can you prevent stuttering? For one, have written down in front of you the main points you want to address in your call. The main questions you want to ask an agent about them, their agency, and how your book would be represented. (Kate Hart has a great list.) Talk slowly and each time you feel a stutter or “um” coming on simply stop talking. Slow down. Think it through, and your concise speaking will actually come across as confidence on the other end of the phone.
2. Leaving a Message.
State the purpose of your call at the beginning and the end of a voice message. Most people miss the first part of a message or are at least slow paying attention. Start out with who you are and why you are calling and end the message the same way. For instance:
Hello Dream Agent, My name is Megan O’Connor. I am calling to discuss my book, Most Amazing Book Ever. You said today was a good time to call, and I am available until the rest of my life 9 p.m. eastern time. I can be reached at 555-555. Again, this is Megan calling concerning my manuscript, Most Amazing Book Ever, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
3. When you think the phone call is over, ask one more open-ended question.
On the phone you don’t get to observe body language and thus you don’t know if the person on the other end has more they want to talk about. When you think the conversation is dwindling down ask something like:
Is there anything else you wanted to talk about today? Do you have any questions for me? Is there anything else I can help you with?
You would be surprised how often people will tell you what they really feel or how much more you can learn about an agent from asking that one open- ended question at the end of a call.
4. Smile while you are on the phone.
It sounds silly since the person on the other end of the phone can’t see you, but actively smiling while you are talking will come across in your tone and help you act more natural in the conversation.
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