By: Kristina Anderson, Barbizon International

Whether you are trying to break into the modeling and acting industry or if you are just looking to be the best possible version of yourself, in any professional setting you will likely find yourself on the phone with clients, vendors and/or colleagues. Using proper phone etiquette is important because it is the way you communicate with others when they aren’t in front of you and able to see your gestures and facial expressions. Here are a few tips on how you can make sure your phone conversations are always as professional as you are:

• Enunciate and speak clearly. When talking on the phone, if one person is mumbling or speaking softly it is especially hard to understand what they are saying if you can’t see them. On the other hand, make sure you are not yelling into your phone. If you are on a cell phone outside, it may be habit to speak louder but be conscientious that you are not shouting at someone over the phone.
• Smile! Have you ever heard the sales mantra “smile and dial”? Putting a smile on your face can have a great effect on the way your mood comes across even if the person on the other end of the line can’t see you.
• Speak directly into the mouthpiece and don’t eat or chew gum while talking on the telephone. It is unprofessional to be chomping on any kind of food or gum while talking on the phone.
• When leaving a message, be sure to speak slowly and clearly in case the other person needs to take notes to call you back. ALWAYS leave your name and phone number when leaving a message and, if you can, repeat your name and number again at the end of the message. You never know how many messages a person has received and whether or not their business line provides caller ID.
• Let someone know if you place them on speaker phone. It is common courtesy to let anyone you are speaking with know if the things they are saying can be easily overheard by others.
• Do not keep your phone on the table or answer it if you are in a professional meeting. While there are exceptions for emergencies or certain types of meetings, for the most part it is not polite to answer your phone when you in a professional meeting or having a face-to-face conversation with someone.

Do you want to learn more about Barbizon’s modeling and personal development program? Contact us today to schedule an audition.