Do you hate the phone at work?

Question

Why or why not? I extremely hate the phone at work. Why can't people just communicate through e-mail. Maybe it's just my lack in social skills. What do you think?

Answer 1

Part of my job is answering the phone and it is so annoying! Partly because you are talking to people you never met, and when they are rude, you get pissed pretty easily. And they always seem clueless...

Answer 2

Wow, this is just too funny! I stumbled onto this question just as I had a terrible phone experience at work! I got a phone call, answered it and nobody there, but I could hear voices in the background. So after saying hello for 30 seconds, I hung up. 20 Seconds later, it rings again, from the same number, with the same results. Finally, on the third call from him, I am able to hear him all broken up, so I tell him, "Look, I can't hear you! There is obviously a problem with the phones, so send me an email instead!" So, what does he do? He calls me on another line, lol. Grrrrrrr. Turns out the other lines worked OK--he used a different phone and called me on a different phone. Also, he always uses speakerphone, and that just eats me up. If you are going to use speakerphone, you should announce who else is in the area so you know who your audience is! Grrrrrrrr!!!

Answer 3

I don't like being interrupted when I am concentrating on a task. For that reason, I will often have a period of time when I will let all calls go into voice mail. In times when I answer calls directly, I have a relationship file to indicate the relationship of the customer to us so that I know the account relationship.

I always respond to recorded messages within two hours of receiving them. When dealing with a customer, it is important to me to know who is calling, their account relationship, etc., before I call back. In that manner, I can give better service.

Additionally, I sometimes arrive at work at 7:00 a.m. just to get some work done before the phone starts ringing. Once it is 9:00 a.m., things often get crazy.

E-mail is not as personal as telephone calls. You can often determine somebody's emotion by telephone and are better able to de-fuse a delicate situation by asking probing questions and promising immediate response. Hearing a voice is more personal. It gives the other person an opportunity to "hear you smile." Yes, the tone of your voice is important.

Answer 4

I dislike the phone, too, but not just at work. I just don't like talking on the phone.

But I think this speaks to how our culture works these days. We don't want to bother people, and more than anything we don't want to be bothered. We want to do things ourself, hence all the do-it-yourself stuff and websites where you can book your own travel, go shopping without talking to anyone, etc, etc. I read an article recently about how we are becoming more secluded and turning into a bunch of hermits. Sorry, I forget where I read that or I'd include the proper reference.

I think that by forcing yourself to talk on the phone, you'll be improving your social skills. Good luck!

Answer 5

I don't hate talking on the phone. I despise it! Over the years, I've managed to train most people not to call me unless it's very important. If you're constantly picking up the phone, you're not using your time wisely. Unless you're in a call center, let people leave messages and then answer them on your schedule.....via email, unless you absolutely have to call them back. Getting your well-thought-out answers via email will eventually put the thought in their head that email is the way to go when contacting you.

A few of things to keep in mind:
- Don't let all calls go to VM. Your boss won't always like this tactic and it's always good to work on some of your relationships with your coworkers/customers. Email isn't always the best choice for doing that.
- You know who wastes your time on the phone. Use caller ID to your advantage. It was likely invented by someone like us.
- Keep up with the VMs so that you don't miss a truly important call.

Good luck with training your coworkers!

Answer 6

My job IS to talk on the phone to people and I HATE HATE HATE it! lol. I think its because people seem to lose all since of respect for other people when they are talking to them on the phone and not in person. I deal with people in frustrating situations and I'm getting cursed out on a daily basis I try to be the nicest person possible and I just cant help but wonder if they would be so very rude to me if I were dealing with them in a face to face situation vs over the phone situation.

Answer 7

I hate the phone because it brings me new work, and interrupts what I'm doing. It's hard to concentrate on something while you're answering the phone!

Otherwise, the phone's fine, lol.

And yes ... it would be easier if people communicated by email, but THEN, what if you have dozens more emails every day!?!

It's a hard choice, lol.

Best wishes :-)

Answer 8

lol yes I do, in fact all three of our phones in our office are not working right now! They barely ever work! Sigh I guess that is better than having people call all night!

Answer 9

from your posting this week i think your on the way to burnout. make a list of things you like doing srong points weakness be honest Then work on it. I went through it dont wait to long. if you have any vacation time.. just a couple of days off.. no more because idle thoughts come from idle minds...

Answer 10

It gets hard if you are on the phone for long times, if I am on the phone for a long time it makes my ears hurt. Other than that I dont mind it.