After checking out of a hotel last week, I realized that I wasn’t going to be able to email three people on my list for at least a couple hours. Short story is that I didn’t have access to wi-fi for my laptop and these weren’t phone emails – these were emails that were important enough to require the computer. Also, the recipients were all high in their organizational charts and receiving an iPhone email could be viewed as a little disrespectful. However, I needed to contact these people. What did I do?
You’re not going to believe it, but I called them. Yep. Without an email or text to let them know I was going to call. Without scheduling an appointment on their calendar. Without a webcam or virtual background. I just called them on their phones. And guess what? All three answered.
As much as we think that people don’t answer the phones anymore, there is a greater chance than we think. People don’t check their voicemail. People don’t return emails. Practically nobody will see you at their office without an appointment. However, people seem to be answering their phones more in the last three or four years.
One executive friend of mine said “No one calls me anymore – everyone emails or sends texts or wants to schedule a Zoom call for everything. When someone calls, I’ll usually answer.” After pressing him about being an outgoing person, he pushed back with “I was never like that before. I sent every call to voicemail. Not now. When someone calls me and it’s not spam, I’ll usually answer.”
Another friend who is a business owner told me: “No one leaves voicemails anymore, so when someone calls and I know who it is, I’ll take the call.”
Try it. Instead of scheduling a virtual meeting or texting ahead of time, just give them a call. Of course, be professional, confirm that they can speak for a few minutes, and hang up as soon as you can; but give it a try. Not everyone will answer, but some will!
