ANSWERS: 1
  • Finding a way to gracefully end a phone conversation can save a lot of valuable time, and it's a skill best learned early and used consistently. The good news: Signing off over the telephone doesn't have to be fraught with angst, frustration or guilt. The trick is to keep things as short, simple and polite as possible.

    On the Job

    Of course, how you end the call depends upon who's on the other end. This is especially true when it comes to ending a business call. If the call is from your boss or an important client, you may not have the option of ending it. In those cases, it's better to let the caller dictate the length of the conversation. Routine business-related calls should be wound up politely but efficiently. That could mean restating the point of the call: "Good, we're set to meet Monday at 3 p.m. See you then. Goodbye." Or, when appropriate, hand the caller off to someone else: "I'm going to transfer you to Lois in accounting, whom I'm sure can help you." Ending a call from those just calling to pick your brain or sell you something you don't need or want requires little, if any, explanation: "Well, I must go now. Sorry I couldn't be of more help." The bottom line: Guard your time. It's a precious commodity.

    Personal Calls

    Ending personal calls from friends and family members can be a bit trickier. If it's your mom or your boyfriend--and you're on good terms--you should be able to be completely honest: "Talk later. 'Grey's Anatomy' is about to start," or "Got to go wash my hair, honey," should suffice. If, on the other hand, it's your talkative--and overly sensitive--cousin Kristine, whose overtures you brushed off the day before at the grocery store, it's perfectly OK to take the "white lie" approach. "Sorry, I just realized I have to call my boss (editor, mom, veterinarian) before it gets any later. Talk soon."

    Keeping It Simple

    Whatever the situation, one should resist the urge to overexplain. It's just not necessary, and long, convoluted explanations sound like you have to justify how you spend your time. Etiquette guru Judith Martin, better known as "Miss Manners" and author of "Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior," suggests that when all else fails, use the simple, "I'll let you go now." She sees the phrase as a way of gently disengaging while simultaneously recognizing the person on the other end of the line as "someone whose time is important." To be sure, in the case of cousin Kristine, that might be a stretch. But it's a small concession that in the end can dial down the frustration and save you valuable time.

    Source:

    "Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior" Judith Martin; 2005

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