Construction Chat was started May 8, 2014, to build community among the construction-inclined.
This weekly chat is hosted by Riggins Construction Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. We’d love you to join us, if you’re free next week.
(I put a reminder in my calendar. Otherwise, even I would forget.)
This week’s topic focused on Phone Skills based on my LinkedIn post.
I made some vine videos to demonstrate inflection but for the sake of convenience here is the Youtube montage:
Q1: Do you answer the phone for your work?
RT @RigginsConst Q1: Do you answer the phone for your work? #ConstChat <<For my own biz, not for WindowWorks.
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) September 18, 2014
A1. I don't currently but I have at previous jobs. #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) September 18, 2014
Haha me2! RT @WindowWorksCA @RigginsConst I answer tweets, not the phone. 😀 #ConstChat
— AEC Daily (@AECdaily) September 18, 2014
Half of the time. My interns the other half. RT @RigginsConst: Q1: Do you answer the phone for your work? #ConstChat
— Rose Dostal,ASID,AIA (@RMD_Designs) September 18, 2014
A1 Sadly, the phone is not a big part of my duties. I actually wish it was a bigger part. I enjoy chatting. #constchat
— Liftec Forklifts (@LiftecForklifts) September 18, 2014
A1. I guess we all do RT @RigginsConst How about this: Q1a. Do you answer any phone for business reasons? #ConstChat
— AEC Daily (@AECdaily) September 18, 2014
A1. Yes it'work #ConstChat
— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) September 18, 2014
Q2: Do you make outgoing calls?
A2. Yes. All the time. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) September 18, 2014
A2 rarely #constchat
— Liftec Forklifts (@LiftecForklifts) September 18, 2014
Q2. I do with clients and prospects #ConstChat
— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) September 18, 2014
A2 What irks me most is when I can't understand what other ppl are saying on phone line #phoneskills . #ConstChat @RigginsConst
— Rose Dostal,ASID,AIA (@RMD_Designs) September 18, 2014
Q3: Is communicating by telephone outdated?
A3 No. Maybe just people's view of it. #ConstChat
— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) September 18, 2014
A3. Phone is essential for the sales process. Becoming less and less a tool for other functions. #constchat
— Liftec Forklifts (@LiftecForklifts) September 18, 2014
A3. Not outdated, just different. Sometimes people text me, "Is it a good time to call?" before phoning. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) September 18, 2014
A3. Not at all! We still need it, but making phone calls is different now. #constchat
— AEC Daily (@AECdaily) September 18, 2014
A3: No, bar none still the fastest way to pass along vital info & problem solve. Just make sure U communicate with your team! #constchat
— Mussachio Architects (@MussachioArch) September 18, 2014
Q4: Has anyone been rude to you over the phone?
A4. Yep #ConstChat
— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) September 18, 2014
A4: Not yet today. 8) #ConstChat
— Mussachio Architects (@MussachioArch) September 18, 2014
A4. Ha – oh yes. #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) September 18, 2014
A4. Yes, but not so much lately. People use the phone less. But more robocalls, which by definition are mostly rude. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) September 18, 2014
A4. More often ppl are clueless rather than rude on phone, esp customer svc peeps. #constchat
— Liftec Forklifts (@LiftecForklifts) September 18, 2014
Q5: What percentage of communication is verbal?
A5 Love your point in blog post that biggest % of verbal is body language. #constchat
— Liftec Forklifts (@LiftecForklifts) September 18, 2014
A5. On the phone? Pretty close to 100% is verbal. Unless it's Skype or G+ Hangout. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) September 18, 2014
A5. We communicate in person with body language, facial expressions, voice intonation, and word choice. Loose half on phone. #ConstChat
— Riggins Construction (@RigginsConst) September 18, 2014
For us, at this point, I would say 50% verbal 40% email and 10% social (new to social media) @RigginsConst #constchat
— Lighting Designs (@Lenergydesigns) September 18, 2014
A5. Good question. 40% would be my guess but I am not out in the field any longer. Customers were texting me. #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) September 18, 2014
A5: In our office. It's likely to be about 25-30% #constchat
— Mussachio Architects (@MussachioArch) September 18, 2014
Email is worse! RT @RigginsConst A5. We communicate in person with body language, facial expressions..,Loose half on phone. #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) September 18, 2014
A5a. And you can "hear" if someone is smiling. And if you stand while talking on the phone, the tone is more energetic. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) September 18, 2014
Q6: Does the tone and pitch of your voice matter?
A7. Absolutely! Sales for me was mostly inside so phone was critical. Always upbeat and smiling. #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) September 18, 2014
A6. Absolutely the tone makes a big difference on the phone. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) September 18, 2014
A6: In many ways it's as important as what you are 'actually' saying. #constchat
— Mussachio Architects (@MussachioArch) September 18, 2014
A6. @RigginsConst It is critical to be friendly. We have a new product so our goal is for excitement to come though #constchat
— Lighting Designs (@Lenergydesigns) September 18, 2014
Absolutely! RT @RigginsConst: Q6: Does the tone and pitch of your voice matter? #ConstChat
— Rose Dostal,ASID,AIA (@RMD_Designs) September 18, 2014
Q7: What’s your biggest phone pet peeve?
I am always a bit surprised when I get a work text. I don't expect that form of communication. #ConstChat
— Darren Slaughter (@DarrenSlaughtr) September 18, 2014
A7. Telemarketers and robocallers #block #ConstChat
— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) September 18, 2014
A7 Phone communication can become long, and with email there is a paper trail of communication. #Constchat @RigginsConst
— Lighting Designs (@Lenergydesigns) September 18, 2014
A8. People talking over me while I am explaining the solution (hopefully) #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) September 18, 2014
A7 my biggest phone pet peeve is bad reception. My building is notorious 4 bad reception even w AT&T #constchat
— Liftec Forklifts (@LiftecForklifts) September 18, 2014
A7 Products Reps, make sure you don't slur your words-sell their product w/clarity #phoneskills #ConstChat @RigginsConst
— Rose Dostal,ASID,AIA (@RMD_Designs) September 18, 2014
Q8: How do YOU tie down your verbal communications for record keeping / team member reference?
@WindowWorksCA @RigginsConst I* try to take notes in the body of the email during the call or meeting and follow up by sharing. #Constchat
— Lighting Designs (@Lenergydesigns) September 18, 2014
@Lenergydesigns I take notes, esp if it's a long sales call, or a call with one of my clients. Then track in Excel @RigginsConst #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) September 18, 2014
A8. Depends. Post-it or email.#ConstChat
— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) September 18, 2014
@WindowWorksCA @Lenergydesigns @RigginsConst I record the call to refer back and share with team. #constchat
— Darren Slaughter (@DarrenSlaughtr) September 18, 2014
A8: If u follow us u already know (#ProTips). Always send a follow up email. It ties down decided courses of action & timelines #ConstChat
— Mussachio Architects (@MussachioArch) September 18, 2014
A8. Long convo need to be noted and emailed if necessary. Use evernote. #ConstChat
— rubyrusine (@SocialSMktg) September 18, 2014
Bonus Tweets:
We got two new participants today.
Am I allowed to play? #ConstChat
— Darren Slaughter (@DarrenSlaughtr) September 18, 2014
@RigginsConst Thrilled to "accidentally" discover #ConstChat
— Lighting Designs (@Lenergydesigns) September 18, 2014
Alright #ConstChat, we're off! Time to make our clients happy! #PleaseHoldMyCalls while I get some real work done! Till next week!
— Mussachio Architects (@MussachioArch) September 18, 2014
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