The Top Ten Rules of Phone Etiquette

No matter the times or the technology, there is always room for good manners. Whether speaking with people in person or on the telephone, good manners and a reasonable approximation of proper etiquette are always applicable. Below are the top ten rules of phone etiquette for those who may not be sure of what is proper.

1 – Always answer in a polite manner. Whether it’s your land line and home, your cell or somebody else’s phone, always answer in a polite and courteous fashion. Some form of greeting is good, such as a simple hello, followed by a bit of identification, so that the other party knows they have reached the intended target.

2 – Never eat when on the phone. It’s just plain common sense. The sounds of eating coming through the telephone are revolting and should never happen

3 – Always speak just loud enough to be heard. Whether you are on the phone at home, or on your cell out in public, always speak just loudly enough to be heard by the person on the other end. Anything else will be too loud for the other person and annoying for those in the nearby vicinity.

4 – Don’t answer the phone when engaged with someone else. If you have a guest over for dinner and the phone rings, don’t answer it. If you are out on a date with someone and the phone rings, don’t answer it. See a trend here? Don’t put the people you are with on the back burner so that you can focus on someone who is not even there.

5 – Don’t call after nine o’clock. Unless it’s an emergency or someone is expecting to hear from you, don’t call people after nine o’clock at night. Most people are unwinding as they prepare their minds for sleep. Calling after nine interrupts the routine and is insensitive to the needs of others.

6 – Always leave your number on voice-mail. If you call someone and get their voice-mail and choose to leave a message, always leave them a method of getting back to you. Just do it, it’s expected and polite.

7 – Generally make personal calls only after an invitation. Only dial someone’s personal phone number if you have been given that number by the person that owns it.

8 – Don’t use annoying ring-tones. While wild and crazy ring-tones on your phone might sound amusing to you, the odds are good that they are nothing but annoying to everyone else. Be considerate and pick a quiet sensible tone.

9 – When on the phone in public, refrain from talking about private issues. If you talk about private issues in public, it makes those around you feel awkward or embarrassed. This is rude. Don’t do it.

10 – Always use some form of good-bye, when finished speaking. It is considered good manners to offer some form or good-bye at the conclusion of a telephone conversation, particularly if you aren’t very familiar with the person to whom you’ve been speaking. Doing so makes it clear that things are over and it’s time to hang up. Not doing so, causes confusion, and possibly embarrassment.

These tip ten rules of phone etiquette are for anyone and everyone that uses a telephone, whether at home or on the go. If you are someone who uses a telephone, and you know you are, I hope some or all of these rules of etiquette will stick in your mind so that you will not be bothering or offending others when you’re on the phone. Good luck.