How To Get Off the Phone With Someone Who Just Won’t Shut Up
- August 4, 2009
- 325 Views
Director/Producer/Editor
Heather de Michele
Actor
Anna Fitzwater
Are you too kind to phone gabbers? Save yourself headaches and reclaim your precious time.
You Will Need
- Honesty
- Resolve
- Verbal skills
- Assertiveness
- A sense of humor (optional)
Step 1: Be honest
Explain honestly, without being rude, that you don’t feel like talking on the phone. Repeat if they haven’t listened.
Step 2: Exercise willpower
Don’t encourage more talk by asking questions or inviting tangents.
Step 3: Have resolve
Demonstrate your resolve with telemarketers by stating, “Take me off the call list.”
Have fun with telemarketers. Talk their ears off by listing your aches, pains, woes, complaints, fears, desires, and frustrations.
Step 4: Practice your verbal skills
Ask your caller to talk with you in person. Address the problem of their long-windedness and suggest e-mailing or speaking at times when you can listen without distraction.
Step 5: Create a diversion
Ring your own doorbell or pretend someone is calling you from another room. Children provide a convenient excuse.
Step 6: Subtle suggestions
Begin a sentence that indicates the call is ending. Say, “Before we hang up in a minute, I want to tell you…”
Step 7: Be assertive
Explain that you have things to do. Interrupt with a straightforward message that requires recognition.
A 2007 study found that men and women are equally talkative, though women focus more on relationships and men on numbers.
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Comments (1)
I DO'NT FREKIN' CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
over 2 years ago by 10009132
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