Business Phone Blues
There are many different ways to handle phone calls during your work day. We've gathered some of the most common ones for you with advice on how to make the best out of each. Let's start off with your typical desk phone. Though it may seem basic, business phones can actually have a lot of potential in terms of making you more productive at work and increasing company morale around the office.
If your company doesn't already provide them, you can purchase your own desk phone for between $30-$50 on eBay. Our suggestion is to go with a sturdy model like this.
If using one of these phones while you're at the office, obey its etiquette rules. Try not to answer the phone while in meetings because this assumes that everyone is available when they should be and isn't exactly conducive to good teamwork.
In order to pick up a call, simply press the big green button that says "Pick Up". This will ring through your office and allow people to hear who's calling in their headsets.
If you're not a fan of the dial tone, there are a few other ways to answer the phone while you're out and about. The most obvious is that you can use your cell phone.
For this option, make sure to have it on vibrate or silent mode so that it won't ring at all. If you take your phone with you when going downstairs for coffee or lunch, make sure to set it on vibrate as well in case someone calls during these breaks.
If you don't want to bring your phone with you, there are several apps available for smartphones that will allow people to call (and send text messages) from their phones using Bluetooth connectivity. This is handy if you have a business meeting where your boss may call or if you're simply running around town for the day and want to keep in touch.
In terms of how to answer calls, there are a few different ways that can be achieved. Your first option is to listen through the phone's speakerphone.
For this one, simply press the green button that says "Listen". This will allow your co-workers to hear who's on the phone as well as answer them themselves if they wish.
The next option is to switch over to speakerphone mode for your office phone. This is accomplished by pressing a specific combination of buttons at once (it's usually 3-4 buttons).
Conclusion:
Desk phones have plenty to offer a business in terms of productivity and making the job more convenient for employees. Listen for calls at important meetings or when in another room by pressing "Listen", chat away by using speakerphone or simply use your smartphone app to field calls.
Once you get back to your desk, switch back over to normal dial tone for ease of use. Overall, desk phones do have their place in the modern business world.
For those concerned with what's appropriate during business hours, there are plenty of ways to handle phone calls that will keep things professional around the office and increase worker satisfaction.
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Business Phone Blues