In my line of business I'm on the phone a LOT. Whether it's checking up on product price points, requesting review samples or arranging meetings, I both call and am called constantly every day. And out of every phone call there are about ten seconds of awkwardness to encounter which I loathe.
Here are my Top Ten gripes about phone calls.
1. Ring, Ring, 'Hi Zara speaking'. 'Hello can I speak to Zara?'. Didn't you just hear me say my name? You ignore my greeting and then still expect to have a productive conversation when you've now made it clear you're someone who doesn't listen? And who did you expect to find answering my direct phone line? Grr.
2. 'Hi how are you?' 'I'm fine, and you?' 'Very well thank you'. Do you actually care how I am? If I'm having a good day/bad day? No, you want to sell me something, sort something out and these silly pleasantries are a waste of our time.
From: CES 2012 - More fitness and health gadgets - Basis, Qualcomm and Striiv