Communicate Correctly - Technology Information

Home Office Computing, Sept, 2000 by Douglas Gantenbein

How to Get the Most From It Know Your Audience Some people like to make small talk during business conversations, while others want to cut the chatter and cut a deal, says Deb Haggerty, president of Positive Connections, a management consulting firm in Orlando, Fla. Assess what type of caller you're talking to and go with the flow.

Make Appointments You set aside time to meet with someone in person, so why not make appointments for important telephone calls? By booking a specific time, you can be assured that the party you are calling will be focused on the conversation, and likely will have done some prep work beforehand, making the call more productive.

Listen Listening is a lost art, says Christina McCale, marketing manager for US West's Extended Workplace Solutions division. "So often we don't let the other person finish, or we let call waiting interrupt a call," she says. To stay focused on the speaker, try framing questions to elicit more detail from a person's last remark.

Biggest Faux Pas Multitasking while using a speakerphone--the other party can almost certainly hear that keyboard clicking while you respond to someone else's e-mail. Stay on the subject--it ensures you'll never miss a key point from the call.