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Needing No Introduction…?

August 26, 2010 By
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Hello!

Some of you know me, others have so far managed to avoid me. As a newbie to ‘Blokes’ I thought, “I know, I’ll turn this blog posting business on its head, put a new twist on it.

An early 20th century candlestick phone being ...

Image via Wikipedia

So, sticking to a subject I know something about, and with no desire to bore you by ranting on about using the phone during economic recession or helping to get a business off the ground by cold calling, instead I’d like to ask for your help: In the comments box below, and with brutal honesty, say what you love or hate about using the phone. Include success stories, failure, funny incidents and embarrassing moments, plus anything you’ve learned about using the telephone in your business or professional life.

Your experiences will make for a great read and give valuable insight on what is, for many, a very emotive subject. Simple, eh? As you’re a communicative bunch just by virtue of being here, there’s absolutely no reason that I can’t count on you, right? Right?? Okay :)

Oh, in case you were wondering, the title “Needing no introduction…?” refers to speaking with people you’ve never spoken with before. After all, if we all waited for someone to introduce us or to get permission to speak, would we even show up in a place like this?

Over to you, comrades!

With thanks in advance,

Best as always, Shaun

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Filed Under: Business, Latest:, Shaun Gisbourne
  • http://www.curved-vision.co.uk Simon Raybould

    Good Lord Shaun…. if that’s a picture of you, maybe you DO need an introduction, after all! :)

  • http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/ Sarah Arrow

    Welcome Shaun, that dress does look rather fetching doesn’t it ;)

    sometimes I find talking to an introduction is scarier than a stranger!

  • http://jeremydent.posterous.com Jeremy Dent

    99% of cold callers have done no research, have appalling introductions, don’t work on their voices, project very little energy and are dull. The ones that aren’t? Well, that’s another story! Why do they need to call like this when inbound marketing can be so powerful?

  • http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Write-Winning-Non-Fiction-Publishing/dp/1907498060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267183488&sr=1-1 Suzan St Maur

    Why is it that despite being a professional (and prolific) writer in print and online in text terms, I become a total wuss whe cold-calling on the phone? Please tell me, Shaun!

  • Morag

    The older I get, the more I avoid talking into the phone. There’s no particular reason for it, I think, except that I will always prefer to text rather than call, if at all possible. Maybe it is just because I am a boring, undiplomatic person!

  • http://www.super-pa.net SuperPA

    I’ve never really liked talking on the phone and I think it is because I like the visual signals you get from talking face to face. You get so much more information about how what you’re saying is coming across and what the other person is saying. For me the phone is purely functional. The pleasure of communicating is face to face because it uses a greater range of your senses. My assumption of course is that this leads to more effective communication, but I suppose it can mean you are more likely to be deceived by appearances sometimes.

  • Shaun Gisbourne

    This has really taken some thinking over Suze. I think the only answer can be how you represent it in your head: If you imagine arriving in a new town and you want some information, you may start by saying something like: “Excuse me, would you be able to help me please? I’m looking for… ” A fairly natural opening. Yet that is rarely how it goes on the phone. Once you use those words, the person is instantly open to listen to see if they can provide you with their expertise or shine in some way.
    If you adopt a bullying tone and forget your manners (‘please’ and ‘thank you’ go a long way), you’re running the risk of alienating the other persona and not getting what you want. Sometimes, just being honest and saying “this is a cold call” or “this is my first time calling your organisation, and I was wondering…” can work for you . the majority of people calling for the first time make the mistake of assuming familiarity.

  • Shaun Gisbourne

    Good point about visual cues SuperPA. You may want to consider what blind people do. They have no such benefits yet their listening skills are more acute by way of compensating for their lack of sight. Liz Jackson of Great Guns Marketing, a prominent UK telemarketing company is probably one person who can vouch for that, having built her company to 10 offices in the UK whilst becoming blind.
    And yes, we’ve all been deceived by appearances. For this, have a look at John Lenoon and Yoko Ono doing their Bed In for Peace in a hotel in Amsterdam in 1969. The point Lennon makes is that it’s only what we’re saying that we’re here for and you can’t confuse the issues with how long someone’s hair is or the colour of their skin etc.

  • Shaun Gisbourne

    Nothing to do with boring Morag, rest assured. For some, the need to retain written records of communication is paramount and the phone is purely a second-fiddle facilitator. People have adopted the habit of texting and emailing, which is fine. The negatives with written word is that people can confuse the context of a message sometimes and become offended when no offence was intended by the sender. The emotions behind a message (often vital to the sales process) can be missed altogether.
    Hope this helps :)

  • Shaun Gisbourne

    Inbound marketing is what you represent Jeremy so I understand any bias toward it that you may have. As is often said there are many ways to skin a cat and not all will suffice in every case. The marketing mix that is most effective is usually characterised by a handful of methods that provide worthwhile returns, and ditching the rest.

  • Shaun Gisbourne

    Thank you very much to all who’ve commented on this so far. I was a bit apprehensive about how this would be received, and it’s great to see people have opinions and info to share. Please keep them coming! :)

  • http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Write-Winning-Non-Fiction-Publishing/dp/1907498060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267183488&sr=1-1 Suzan St Maur

    What I really hate with cold callers is when one I’ve never heard of starts by saying “hello, Suzan, and how are you today?” Am always tempted to say “none of your f***ing business, just get on with the rest of your script,” but I know that’s rather unsporting of me.

    I think what put me off was working as a telesales exec on my dad’s newspaper years ago as a weekend/holiday job. Once you’ve been told to p*ss off about 24 times in a morning it’s very hard to keep that smile on your face and a twinkle in your voice….I really do admire people who can survive this!

    Thanks for the advice though, Shaun – very useful. As always, honesty is the best policy.