Gulp – I Was Expecting Voicemail!

woman talking on the phone

Congratulations – you’ve finally set aside the time to make some phone calls and you are ready. You’ve written out the points you want to cover – they are on an index card on your desk. You’ve organized a list of names and phone numbers – there are 10 you are going to call today. You are excited. You are focused.

You reach your first voicemail.

After about the fourth call you are feeling pretty good about you’re the energetic voicemail message you are leaving and every time you dial a number, you prepare to leave it again. But on the 9th call …

someone answers their phone and …

you are not prepared. You got lulled into the safe space of leaving messages and now you flounder a bit. For three terrifying seconds, your mind goes blank and you can’t remember anything you wanted to say!

This is happening to all of us as we find ourselves reaching more voicemail than people on a daily basis. Off the top of my head (and as I write this I’m realizing I should keep track for a few days) I’d say that, at best, I reach 2 people for every 10 calls I make.

Be aware – you must always be ready to speak to someone in real-time. Even as you leave message after message, keep in your mind’s eye a vision of someone picking up the phone. Have that vision front and centre while you dial each number. Don’t get caught off guard.

And this practice, of visualizing someone answering their phone is also an “attractor factor”. The more I visualize a real-time conversation, the more these conversations actually happen.

But if and when you do find yourself startled out of a voicemail lull, awkward in the moment someone answers their phone, don’t worry about it. In fact, shake it off with a bit of a laugh and say something like: “Wow, it’s great to talk to a real person. I’ve connected with a lot of voicemail this morning.” This opener will be well received because this is a common experience, and it will give you time to adjust, prepare yourself for a great conversation.

Closing a sale is the natural outcome of inspiring great conversations and listening intently to our potential customers. This natural approach still involves a process – a plan that moves potential customers through a journey of discovery with you. So ... what's your process? And am I the right sales coach for you? Let's find out.

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What's The Phone Lady doing?

  • One-on-one coaching with 6 amazing entrepreneurs - info about sales coaching here
  • Creating client communication module for college students studying design
  • Remote learning experience for financial advisors
  • Remote learning experience with new business owners on creating their sales process
  • One-on-one and team coaching for a firm representing natural products for arthritis in dogs
  • Remote learning experience on both discovery and sales calls for new startups
  • Team coaching with a national moving company to refine their sales process
  • In-person team coaching with marketing company
  • Remote phone skills workshop for North American orthodontist firm
  • Working with translators to present The Phone Lady in France
  • Free sales workshop at the Halifax Central Library
  • Phone skills as a job search tool for those starting their career

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