Phone Calls Are Back! Top Tips to Make Your Sales Pitch or Job Interview Impactful.

Although video-everything has become the new method of communication, there has also been a considerable resurgence of the humble phone call. Whether you are making a sales pitch, connecting with a long-standing client, or doing an initial job interview, the phone call is back. 

Before making that call do 2 things: prepare your content to ensure you are knowledgeable and ready to respond without fumbling for notes or looking up info. Secondly, turn off all distractions. If you have a TV in your workspace, switch it off. You don’t want sudden Breaking News to pull your attention.

Next, take a few deep breaths and relax your shoulders. It will improve the quality and tone of your voice.

Then 4 tips to follow:

  • Stand up if possible. If you need to take notes or use your laptop, sit up straight. By standing, you increase your energy and passion, and this comes across in your conversation. Do not slump or hunch over your phone. You will come across as too laid-back and disinterested. Try recording yourself talking while seated and then while standing. You will hear the difference.
  • Smile. Your client or the interviewer won’t see this, but they will hear it in your voice. You will come across as warm and engaged.
  • Use your natural hand gestures. Non-verbal also plays a role in phone calls, so keep using your hand gestures as though the other person could see you. Gesturing helps clarify our thinking, which helps convey a clearer message.
  • Speak slowly. Practice slowing down your usual pacing. Doing this will immediately improve your diction and lessen the use of verbal tics: um, ah, etc. In addition, a slower pace conveys confidence and authority.

PRO-TIP: buy a good quality headset. It will allow you to sit or stand correctly and use your hands.