Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Plan ahead
• Method 2 of 3: Start a Conversation
• Method 3 of 3: Prepare for the Call
• Tips

Whether you're looking to make a date or sell something as part of your job responsibilities, there are times when you need to make an important phone call. If you're not used to talking on the phone, starting a conversation can be scary. The key to a successful phone call is to make sure both parties feel comfortable so that you can discuss the issue of interest with ease.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Plan ahead

1. 1 Understand what purpose you are pursuing with your call. Before picking up the phone, it is important to understand what you want to achieve with the call. For example, if you're calling someone you romantically like, your goal might be to ask for a date. During a business conversation, it may be about selling your goods or services. Ask yourself what you hope to achieve with this conversation.
   • It would be helpful if possible to define the target as precisely as possible. This will help you better prepare for the conversation.
   • In some cases, the purpose of the call may be more general. For example, you might call a company to inquire about the services they offer without knowing exactly what interests you. The information you receive will help you understand exactly what you need or want.
2. 2 Inquire about the interlocutor. If you are calling a specific person whom you do not know very well, you should first inquire about him. This will help you better understand what to expect from the conversation. For example, if you're going to talk to the CEO of a company, chances are he'll be very busy and won't have much time to talk to you. If you are calling a shy person, you may need to talk to you most of the time.
   • If you are making a business call, visit the website of the company where you are speaking. It should include his title and possibly a biography to help you get an idea of ​​him.
   • If you are making a personal call, ask a friend in advance who knows your interlocutor who this person is.
3. 3 Write down a few theses of the conversation. Once you've figured out what you need and who you want to talk to, add some confidence by taking a few notes for your phone call. These can be points that you definitely want to touch upon in a conversation, or questions that interest you. With the help of such a list, you will not forget anything important during a direct conversation.
   • It can also be helpful to make a plan by prioritizing the items. Of course, you will have to adapt the conversation based on the answers of your interlocutor, but this technique will help you keep the conversation going if you are worried about a phone call.
   • Think about how long it will take to make a call. It is best to assume that you will not talk for long, so you should focus on the most important topics that you want to discuss.

Method 2 of 3: Start a Conversation

1. 1 Say hello and introduce yourself. First, greet the person who responded by saying “hello” or “hello”. Most people have caller ID these days, but you should still introduce yourself unless the person on the other end of the line greets you by name. If you're calling someone you know fairly well, a name might be enough. However, in other situations, you may need to provide more information so that the person can understand who you are.
   • When it comes to greeting, you can use an option according to the time of day, such as good morning, good afternoon, or good evening.
   • If you are making a business call, also name the company you work for. For example: "Good morning, this is Alina Sereda from the Trade Engine advertising agency."
   • If you call someone you like, you can mention where you met. For example: “Hello, this is Anton Ostakh. We met at the gym last week. "
   • If you are calling someone you have a mutual friend with, say their name. For example: “Hello, this is Peter. I am Nikita's friend. I think he warned you about my call. "
   • If you are calling about a vacancy, please ask how you learned about it. For example: “Hello, my name is Victoria Arlanova. I am calling about the job advertisement you gave to the newspaper yesterday. "
   • If you call the company to request general information, you do not need to include your name. You can just say: "Hello, I am interested in cleaning furniture at home."
2. 2 Ask if the person is comfortable speaking. If you want to have a successful phone call, it's important to make sure the person you're calling is as focused on them as you are. This is why it is a great idea to ask if he has time to talk before starting him. If the person says he is free, start talking. If he says that he is busy or is about to leave, you should find another time to talk.
   • If the person you are calling is busy, arrange another time before hanging up. Say, “Can I call you back this afternoon? For example, at 15:00? "
   • If the person wants to call you back, suggest a day and time when it will be convenient for you. You can say, “I'll be free tomorrow morning. Can we talk about ten? "
3. 3 Break the ice with non-committal conversation. If you're calling to ask or sell something, you don't have to get right down to business. This can alienate the interlocutor. Instead, try to make contact by talking a little about neutral topics like the weather.
   • However, do not talk too long about trifles, otherwise there is a high probability that the interlocutor will begin to lose patience.
   • If you know the person you are calling, make a good-natured joke about their area of ​​interest. For example, if you call someone who you know is a sports fan, say: “CSKA was clearly on fire yesterday, what do you think?”
   • If you're unfamiliar with the person you're calling, conduct small talk about more general topics. For example: “It's been so hot here lately! I don’t remember it was that bad last summer. ”
4. 4 Get to the heart of the call. Once you realize that you and the other person are feeling more comfortable and relaxed, it's time to get to the heart of the matter. Tell the person why you are calling. Speak as clearly and concisely as possible, as if you walk around to about, you will sound insecure.
   • While you need to exude confidence, remember to be polite when you ask the person you are calling for something.
   • If you talk for too long without stopping, the other person is likely to interrupt you. It is a great idea to stop and listen to his reaction if you’ve already covered a little about the purpose of your call.
   • Do not eat or chew gum while talking on the phone. Extraneous sounds will give the impression that you are not very interested in the conversation.

Method 3 of 3: Prepare for the Call

1. 1 Find a quiet place. When the time comes to make a call, you need to be sure that it will go through as successfully as possible. This means you need to create a conversation-friendly environment, so find a quiet place where you can use your phone. You need to minimize background noise to avoid having to ask the other person to repeat your words or shout so they can hear you.
   • The best place to call is an empty room with a closed door. Thus, you are guaranteed no one will bother you.
   • If you need to make a call from an open-space office where you can hear your colleagues, choose a time when the area is not too crowded. For example, call at lunchtime or at the end of the day when people go home.
   • Whenever possible, avoid making important phone calls in public places such as restaurants or shops. They are usually full of distractions and are too noisy for a successful conversation. If you need to call someone when you are away from your home or office, try to find a quiet place, such as a corridor near a restroom in a restaurant or an empty aisle in a store.
2. 2 Check the signal quality. Many people these days use cell phones as their primary means of communication.If this is your case, then before making a call, check the signal on your phone to be sure of a good connection quality. Walk around a bit until you get a signal that suits you. If your mobile phone does not pick up the network well, use a landline phone.
   • The sound quality during a call on a landline phone is generally better than on a mobile phone, so if you need to make a very important call, use a landline phone whenever possible. This is especially necessary if you are calling an older person who may not be able to hear very well.
   • When using your mobile phone, remember to hold it so that the internal microphone picks up your voice without any problems. Better not to make important hands-free calls.
3. 3 Make sure you are comfortable. Before dialing a number, make sure you are ready to fully focus on the conversation. For example, make sure you don't need to go to the bathroom and that there is a drink nearby in case you feel thirsty. It's also a good idea to have tissues on hand in case you sneeze while talking.
   • Decide if you will be more comfortable sitting or standing during the call. For some people, walking helps when they get nervous during a conversation.

Tips

• If you're nervous about a particular phone call, you might want to practice. Have a friend or family member act as the person you will be calling so you can practice.
• If you are calling someone for a private or small talk, you can first send a message: "Do you / you have a few minutes to talk?" The person will feel more at ease if they wait for your call.
• Try to exude a positive attitude during your conversation. Yes, the other person may not be able to see you smiling during the conversation, however, in fact, it will help you sound more enthusiastic and positive.
• Pronounce words clearly during a phone call. You need the interlocutor to easily understand what you are saying.
• Also pay attention to the tempo of your speech. If you speak too quickly, you will also be difficult to understand.