5 Frustrating Voice Mail/Cell Phone Phrases

By Nancy Friedman, Telephone Doctor® Voice mail (business or cell) remains a large frustration in this busy business world. And it’s not just voice mail. The automated attendant is also on the list. In an effort to help reduce voice mail frustration, here are the five...

Listen UP!

by Nancy Friedman, the Telephone DoctorDo you know what the number one skill in sales and service is?I gave you a hint in the title. Right – listening skills.Do we really LISTEN? Most of us ‘hear,’ but do we really listen to what people are saying? Are there any...

Are You Passive, Average or Proactive?

By Nancy Friedman, The Telephone Doctor Take the Test and Find OutRead the scenarios below and ask yourself…which type am I?# 1. The customer says (either on the phone or in person): “Tell you what, I’ve decided not to take the Blue Widget.”Answer from a PASSIVE...

8 Sinful Customer Service Actions

 By Nancy Friedman, Keynote Speaker, Author, President, Telephone Doctor Customer ServiceThis is not MY list. These “sins” are from my audiences who share their views when I speak at conferences across the country. We survey the groups to find out what bothers...

Scripts vs. Conversations

By Nancy Friedman, President / Keynote Customer Service Speaker / Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training For years I have been working with companies to upgrade, tweak and help with scripts their sales and/or customer service reps.Fast forward. Now we’re...

Why “Hi, how are you?” is Semi-Useless

By Nancy Friedman, The Telephone Doctor My mother lived with me in her last years. We enjoyed her sense of humor. Here’s part of what made me realize how useless the phrase, “Hi, how are you?” really is. The house phone rang. Esther answered. The man says, “Hi, Mrs....