Anyone have tips for being a better phone-call-communicator? New. I'm having a lot of conversations over the phone with my counselor and others. Don't feel the same confidence as face-to-face.

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Definitely harder by phone because of the lack of body language and eye contact. Can be tough to know how we are being perceived. A few things that help me. Try to prep in advance by jotting down key points to cover. Helps avoid rambling. Stay focused and don't attempt to multitask (it'll show). Instant messaging is the worst at creating distractions. Watch filler words like "you know" or "like." These truly kill gravitas and can make one sound younger or too casual. Clarify follow up actions before you hang up. In terms of conversation flow, after you speak, remember to allow the other person a few beats before starting to talk again. Our natural tendency is to be uncomfortable with what may seem like long pauses on a phone call but some people need a moment before "taking their turn" speaking. For example, I'm a fast talker and find it slightly less natural when talking with those who speak at a slower rate. I really have to be conscious of pausing otherwise I might start speaking over someone inadvertently. And of course, depending on the importance of the call, follow up via email with a quick recap. Obviously much of this applies in face to face settings but certain bad habits are definitely more apparent on the phone.

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Smile your voice is different when you smile and people can hear it

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100% agree with standing up or pacing a bit! Helps a lot!

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Same concept as above- stand up, walk slowly around as you talk. I hate talking on conference calls because I can't read people's faces. I doodle at home or pace to keep my mind off of it.

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Awesome advice all around. Much appreciated. I've already been trying a few, making an agenda before the call and letting pauses happen. I'll put some of the rest into practice. Agree 100% that the difficulty in interpreting the other persons perception is where the difficulty lies.

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