Don’t be the person with the barely recognizable voice, muttering incoherently into the receiver’s ear about how you somehow aren’t at your desk. Be clear, concise and friendly so you’re voicemail is a greeting and not a nightmare.

Honestly, it’s doesn’t take much to craft an effective, yet pleasant voice mail intro. As long as you’re hitting some or all of the following key points, you’ll establish your phone reputation as upbeat. A good attitude is essential in all aspects of being a professional, if you wish to succeed.

• Thank the person for their call
• State that you are unavailable (optional: why you are away/busy)
• Ask for info such as name and phone number
• If beneficial, provide an alternate co-worker as “immediate assistance”
• Close out the message

I realize this may be, well… mundane to some of you but effective voicemail greetings are an often overlooked part of maintaining a certain level of professionalism and courtesy in the workplace. Make the extra effort to review your current voicemail intro and determine if perhaps it’s time to clean house and refresh with something new.

Share This