On the Phone or Away from My Desk
I have been thinking a lot of why human beings are so routine, regulated and robotic in behavior. For instance, many say, in our voicemail recording that “I am either on the phone or away from my desk.” Now let’s PAUSE.
I think we can all agree this is not an overly exciting message. Quite frankly, it sounds like if you are not working at a desk, you are NOT working. In 2014 this could not be further from the truth. For example, I work virtually anywhere and my desk is not one of my favorite spots. Yes, you got it...the beach is number one.
In all seriousness, think about the second part of the voicemail recording..."I am on the phone." Well, wouldn’t the person calling you assume you are either talking to someone else or not in/at a place to answer the phone? Here is another one. “Your call is very important to me, please leave your name, number and message.” Wow, without those types of instructions a person would be hard pressed to know what to do at the beep.
So, my question for us to ponder is WHY? Why do many of us do and say the same things? Because most of us do not think about it and thus miss an easy, yet big, opportunity to be creative. What if you said, “If you are getting my voicemail, I have either cut out early for the game or am on a long sabbatical.” Why say something so dramatic? It gets people’s attention. It takes such uniqueness in thought, in any industry, for your message to have a “chance” of being remembered.
This week, I invite you to see an example of such thinking in action as this Wednesday begins a new weekly video series in "Today on PIWorld" called "Sharpen Your Pencil: Sales and Marketing Tips." The video will illustrate why creativity is so important. So, I leave you with this. “Thanks for reading my blog. Your reading it is very important to me. If you can please leave your name and contact information as well as your message I will respond to you as soon as I can.” Uhhhh! You get the idea!
- Categories:
- Business Management - Marketing/Sales
Ryan T. Sauers has spent nearly 30 years running, leading or consulting with printing, graphics, promotional and visual communications-related organizations. Sauers is CEO of two companies, Sauers Consulting Strategies LLC and End Resultz Inc. that among other things, owns magazines and is a media firm. Key areas of focus of the firms include sales training, marketing strategy, personal branding, leadership development and organizational change.
Sauers is a frequent national speaker and columnist. He has been recognized as one of the top 80 CMOs globally and achieved the top designation of Certified Marketing Executive through Sales and Marketing Executives International.
Sauers is an adjunct university professor teaching leadership and communication courses to current and aspiring leaders. He is a Certified Myers Briggs, DiSC and Emotional Intelligence Practitioner (one of few in the U.S. to achieve all three rigorous certifications related to human communications, personality and behavior).
Sauers has completed his doctoral-level coursework in Organizational Leadership and is now (ABD - All But Dissertation) working on his dissertation on why some entrepreneurs and small businesses achieve initial and long-term success, whereas countless others do not.
Sauers is the host of the Marketing Matters radio show in Atlanta that later becomes a global podcast. He also is the host of the Community Connections TV show that comes out in video and podcast form. Sauers is the author of the best-selling books, Everyone is in Sales, and Would You Buy from You? More info at RyanSauers.com or call (678) 825-2049 or email Ryan@RyanSauers.com
