How a Smile Has Meaning Even Over the Phone
Smiles are a way of telling other people that we’re happy to see them. We smile at strangers, loved ones, friends and neighbors. It’s a way to put other people at ease. In business, smiles are common currency. Phone communication doesn’t have the benefits of body language and it’s easy to forget about the importance of smiling at customers across the wires. Even over the phone, however, a smile carries meaning. Let’s take a look at why.
What a Smile Signifies
A smile carries many different meanings and is of great importance in our daily lives. In business, it means you are happy to see a customer and get their business. A smile shows a genuine desire to work with a customer to bring about the desired results. For an unhappy customer, a simple smile goes a long way in diffusing a situation and making the customer feel valued. A smile can make or break a deal.
Why a Smile is Important Over the Phone
Over the phone, body language gets lost. Phone communication relies entirely upon tone of voice and words used to convey meaning. Because there isn’t any body language to interpret, miscommunications can happen more easily during phone conversations. In business, it’s important to give customers, over the phone, the same feeling they get from seeing a smile in person. It’s important to put the customer at ease and show them your willingness to work together.
How to Convey a Smile Over the Phone
Believe it or not, it’s possible to smile over the phone! It’s not a huge process; it’s very easy to do. How? Actually smile. A golden rule is to encourage your staff to physically smile upon answering the phone and throughout the call. Smiling changes the tone of our voice and instantly makes us come across as friendlier and more approachable.
The best way to smile at a customer over the phone? Actually smile. It’s important to convey friendliness, openness and approachability no matter what. A smile reminds phone representatives to be open, friendly and to put customers at ease.