{"id":2712,"date":"2023-09-25T19:30:52","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T01:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalesolutions.co.in\/blog\/?p=2712"},"modified":"2023-09-25T19:36:24","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T01:06:24","slug":"the-new-phone-call-etiquette-text-first-and-never-leave-a-voice-mail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalesolutions.co.in\/blog\/the-new-phone-call-etiquette-text-first-and-never-leave-a-voice-mail","title":{"rendered":"The new phone call etiquette: Text first and never leave a voice mail"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n

The new phone call etiquette: Text first and never leave a voice mail<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n

When is it okay to leave voice mails, call multiple times in a row or take a call in public?<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
By\u00a0<\/span>Heather Kelly<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
September 25, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. EDT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"1960s-style<\/div>\n<\/div>
(Emma Kumer\/The Washington Post; iStock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Phone calls have been around for 147 years, the iPhone 16 years and FaceTime <\/span>video voice mails\u00a0about a week.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Not surprisingly, how we make calls has changed drastically alongside advances in technology. Now people can have conversations in public on their\u00a0smartwatches, see voice mails transcribed in real time and dial internationally midday without stressing about the cost.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Tech is not your friend. We are. Sign up for The Tech Friend newsletter.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

The phone norms also change quickly, causing some people to feel left behind or confused. The unwritten rules of chatting on the phone differ wildly between generations, leading to misunderstandings and frustration on all sides.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

We spoke to an etiquette expert and people of all ages about their own phone pet peeves to come up with the following guidance to help everyone navigate phone calls in 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

These will vary depending on your relationship, your age and the context of the call. The closer you are to someone, the less the rules apply. Go ahead, FaceTime your mom with no warning while brushing your teeth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n
Here are the basics on when and how to make a phone call, and why you should think twice before leaving that voice mail. (Video: Monica Rodman\/The Washington Post)<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Don\u2019t leave a voice mail<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Voice mails are an artifact of the days before text messages. If you have information that needs to be communicated in an accurate, timely manner, you\u2019re far better off putting it into writing as a text or email. Most phones transcribe voice mails now, so chances are people aren\u2019t even listening to what you said but reading a (possibly incorrect) text version instead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

The exceptions for the no-voice-mail rule are calling people who would love to hear your voice no matter what you\u2019re saying, or sharing some kind of audio experience. Think besties and immediate family members singing happy birthday, a dispatch from friends at a Taylor Swift concert or a simple \u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

If you have a long juicy story you want to tell, consider sending it in a voice memo instead. It\u2019s the best medium for a monologue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Text before calling<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Calling someone without warning can feel stressful to the recipient. Instead, text them ahead of time to ask if they\u2019re free to talk now, if they can you call when they\u2019re free, or if they can pick a time they\u2019d like to chat. If it\u2019s someone you call regularly, find out what their ideal times are, like after work or only on Sunday afternoons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Wording and context are key for these pre-call texts. A simple \u201ccall me\u201d text can feel urgent and make someone think there\u2019s an emergency. Clarify if it\u2019s urgent or just to catch-up. If it\u2019s about a specific topic, mention it in the text what it is you\u2019d like to talk about so they can be prepared.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

These steps are especially necessary for video calls. Catching someone on video at an unexpected time can be embarrassing for all involved. You should almost never start a FaceTime or other video call without warning.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n

Worried about texting etiquette?\u00a0We\u2019ve got you covered there too.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
You don\u2019t need to answer the phone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

The responsibility isn\u2019t only on the person dialing. Just because someone is calling you out of the blue does not mean you have to pick up. If you\u2019re in a restaurant, using the bathroom or in a meeting, mute the call and get back to them at a convenient time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWe all have control of our phones and can decide if it\u2019s the right time to answer it,\u201d said Lizzie Post, etiquette expert and<\/span>\u00a0<\/b>co-president at the Emily Post Institute. \u201cIf someone interrupts you and you\u2019re ticked off about it, guess whose fault that is? You\u2019re the one who answered the call when you shouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

To be even more polite, send them a text. Smartphones will let you send an automated text response when you can\u2019t answer, which is handy if you want to tell them you can text but not talk or will get back to them soon. Consider adding a custom reply in settings or typing something fresh each time. The default texts can sometimes feel a little brusque.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
Share this article<\/span><\/span>Share<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Emotions are for voice, facts are for text<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Many things don\u2019t need to be a phone call at all. When you\u2019re trying to decide on the best method of communication, consider what it is you want to say.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Anything requiring nuance like opinions or emotional matters are best done over the phone, including arguments, catching up or connecting on a personal level. Factual updates, coordinating plans or anything that is more cut and dried often work best in writing. If something is complicated and will drag on too long as a text chain, go ahead and ask if they can talk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cNobody has a good fight via text message,\u201d says Post. \u201cI get that sometimes it feels better to fight via text because you\u2019re not actually confronting the person, but you get through it a lot faster on the phone.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
Unless it\u2019s an emergency, please hold<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

If someone doesn\u2019t answer your call, do not hang up and immediately call them again. If they have not responded to your text about the call they missed, do not send them an email about it. If it\u00a0is<\/i>\u00a0an emergency, clearly state that right away in a text message.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Use video voice mails judiciously<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Voice mails are dead. Long live the video voice mail. Apple recently introduced a new feature in its iOS 17 update that lets you leave a video message when someone doesn\u2019t answer your FaceTime call. It\u2019s silly and fun and should be used that way, but keep in mind not everyone will find them delightful. Our own Shira Ovide is prepared to unfriend anyone who leaves her a FaceTime voice mail (FaceMail?).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Stay still for video calls<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Video calls on FaceTime, Google Meet, Zoom or Skype should get your full attention. Prop your phone up someplace so that your full face fills the screen, not just your forehead and nose, and stay put until the call is over. When people, especially kids, move around during a video call, it can be disorienting for the person on the other end. If you want to wander around and do chores while talking, switch to a voice call.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Don\u2019t use speakerphone in public<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

While many people (myself included) love eavesdropping on strangers\u2019 gossip, it\u2019s generally considered bad form to use speakerphone in public. Whether it\u2019s a regular call, video call or smartwatch call, use headphones or save it for later. Headphones only solve half of the problem, however, as people still have to hear your side of the conversation. If you\u2019re in a crowded area, like an office or store, be aware of other people\u2019s personal space and your own volume.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Video calls in public are also a sensitive issue. There are strangers around you who did not consent to being on camera, and they might also see something they\u2019re not supposed to on your screen. Frame your shots accordingly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Start screening calls again<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Apple also added a new call screening feature in iOS 17 that will transcribe a voice mail in real time, meaning you can decide while they\u2019re talking to answer the phone. For anyone old enough to have owned an answering machine, this is a delightful throwback. Use this feature to avoid scam calls from unknown numbers instead of answering them all out of curiosity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The feature is still new so we\u2019ll have to see how people feel about being ignored unless they have something worthwhile to say.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Don\u2019t stop talking on the phone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Phone calls aren\u2019t dead! While hopping on the phone may be less common or involve more planning than it used to, it\u2019s still a wonderful way to communicate. Talking to a person in real time can strengthen relationships, improve mental health and\u00a0lessen loneliness.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The new phone call etiquette: Text first and never leave a voice mail When is it okay to leave voice mails, call multiple times in a row or take a call in public? By\u00a0Heather Kelly September 25, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. EDT (Emma Kumer\/The Washington Post; iStock) Phone calls have been around for 147 years,… Continue reading The new phone call etiquette: Text first and never leave a voice mail<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4757,4756,4759,4758,4754,4755],"class_list":["post-2712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","tag-2023-at-600-a-m-edt-emma-kumer-the-washington-post-istock-phone-calls-have-been-around-for-147-years","tag-call-multiple-times-in-a-row-or-take-a-call-in-public-by-heather-kelly-september-25","tag-how-we-make-calls-has-changed-drastically-alongside-advances-in-technology-now-people-can-have-conversations-in-public-on-their-smartwatches","tag-the-iphone-16-years-and-facetime-video-voice-mails-about-a-week-not-surprisingly","tag-the-new-phone-call-etiquette-text-first-and-never-leave-a-voice-mail","tag-when-is-it-okay-to-leave-voice-mails","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalesolutions.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalesolutions.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalesolutions.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalesolutions.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalesolutions.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2712"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalesolutions.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2714,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalesolutions.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2712\/revisions\/2714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalesolutions.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalesolutions.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalesolutions.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}