The Sitagita virtual online course on Corporate etiquette
Virtual Workshops on soft skills for today's
woman
Every Tuesday |
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Lesson four
Office Communications Getting wired
Communication skills are a necessary pre-requisite in corporate culture.
Telephone, fax, e-mail etc are all major players in the office arena. Learn to
use them well and wisely and you have less likelihood of getting your wires
crossed.
Telephone manners
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Business calls should be well thought of and brief. Everybody's
time is at a premium.
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Identify yourself at the outset.
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Ask for the person or department that you need to contact.
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Reintroduce yourself when you are put through.
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Politely and quickly come to the point.
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If you are unable to make contact, leave your number or
follow-up later.
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Never express irritation or exasperation by words or sounds over
'phone.
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Modern instruments are so sensitive, sighs, undertones and swear
words are picked up easily. Watch out.
Although they are not entirely avoidable, personal calls should
be kept to the bare minimum.
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When you do get or make calls, restrict your time on the line.
You may be blocking a great opportunity for your organisation when you hog and
hold up the lines.
Mobile phones
Mobile phones The lifeline of busy corporate
executives. But this lovely gadget has to be handled right.
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Speak softly The cell savvy user is careful
to speak in hushed tones, knowing that a mobile phone has a sensitive
microphone capable of picking up a soft voice.
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Set the ring tone at a low level with a tune that is soft,
gentle and not annoying.
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Use a vibrator mode in any situation like a place of worship, a
hospital or a meeting where a ringing sound would prove disturbing to other
people.
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Learn when to turn the phone on or off.
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There are many situations where it would be rude if a phone
rang, interrupting the transaction at hand.
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