THE GOLDEN RULES of Mobile Phone Etiquette
By
Scupin Richard
1. Answer with a
Smile: Any call that you receive, any time of the day, make sure that you answer them all with a cheerful
smile on your face, with elegance, courtesy and grace. That’s gentleness!
2. Make your ‘Hello’
Mellow!: Remember...! First impressions are best impressions! This applies for a phone conversation as well! The very tone of your ‘Hello’ has a great resonance and impact on your
listener. Hence make sure that your very first greeting – your ‘Hello’ over the phone is graceful and dignified in tone! Else, they may feel the shock of their lives and chances are, the receiver might even end up suffering a
mild heart attack in the process! You might then end up leaving bitter memories of your phone call with them! So yes! Make your Hello Mellow! That’s politeness!
3. Avoid Interruptions:
When you’re talking to someone over the phone, never permit interruptions of any kind from
anyone else! If the situation so warrants, firstly, ask for
the permission of the person at the receiving end, before you admit
interruptions to your talk. You could say, “Could you please excuse me for a
moment!” And when you return, say,
“Thank you for holding on.” That’s gentleness and politeness put together!
4. Avoid Distractions:
When on a formal / official call, never give room for any distractions. Distractions, [like interruptions] could be a huge put off! Added, the receiver
could easily sense your distraction and end up feeling irritated and slighted as well! Chewing gum or munching
chocolates or eating snacks during a phone call is a strict NO! While driving your car
or riding your bike, never use a hand-held mobile phone. Always have a Bluetooth
headset or a normal headset exclusively for such occasions. That’s discernment!
5. Respect Personal Spaces!: When you’re in a room filled with friends or
family or visitors, courtesy and basic etiquette demands that you respect their
space and also regard and cherish their own rights to privacy. Do not disturb them in their sweet
little space, by answering your call right in their midst. If the situation
warrants it, you may get their excuse if needed, and gently move out to a place
where there’s not much of a disturbance, and then continue on your talk. That’s
civility!
6. To Hell with the
Y(h)ell: When you’re in a public place – like in a train or in an airplane
or in a bus, make sure you don’t yell at the top of your voice when talking over
the phone. It is ill manners to do so. Always speak in a low, gentle tone, or make sure
you have a headset on you, and move to a secluded spot, where your call will
not be considered a nuisance to those around you. That’s thoughtfulness!
7. One Missed Call is
worth a Thousand!: When you wish to dial someone, make sure you don’t
give them a hundred missed calls in a row, with such regular, sincere pacing,
in a very short duration of time. Chances are, the receiver will even dread the
very thought of calling you back for the rest of their sweet lives. One missed
call would do. If the person at the other end is really free or inclined to,
they’d sure call you back. In case it’s quite urgent, you could always leave
them a message or ask them to call you back! That’s gentility!
8. Make it in a
Minute: When you’re having lunch, coffee or dinner with your friend(s), and you wish
to make or answer an important call, courtesy demands that you end your call in less
than a minute’s time. That’s courtesy!
9. Cultivate the ‘Mute’:
Cultivate the gentle habit of muting or turning off your mobile phone ringer
when entering a classroom, a meeting, an eatery, etc., where others might be
disturbed by the constant beeps and rings on your phone! That’s being wise!
10. Plan Well before
you Tell: List out the things that you intend to discuss with your
listener, much in advance, even before you dial someone. And once you make your
call, always make sure you have a notepad and a pen/pencil at hand. That’s
being sagacious!
11. Listen! That’s an
Art: As with speaking, so also with listening! Listening is a gentle art! A
graceful art as well! Remember, it’s discourteous to dump your thoughts and
views on your listener, without bothering a heck about their thoughts and
opinions. That’s being one-sided and dictatorial. So take time to listen to
what the person at the other end of the line also has to say during your phone conversation! That’s respect!
image: pond5dotart
