“I’ll call you.”
Or “can we schedule a call?”
These are dreaded words for me.
There are few things I dislike more than a telephone call (or skype call), whether impromptu or scheduled.
There’s no polite way of declining someone when they ask to talk on the phone.
I’ve tried.
It didn’t come across very well.
It went something like this.
Them (in email): Let’s set up a time to talk on the phone. When is good for you?”
Me: Actually, can you just email me the details. If I have a question, I’ll let you know.
Them: I think it makes more sense to discuss this on a call. There’s a lot to go over. I can call you.
Me: Email is adequate. Just send the details via email and if a call is necessary, we can schedule a call. Thanks so much.
Them: I can only get you the information on a call. I can’t really email it to you.
Me: Okay. I’ll pass then.
Them: I’ll see what I can send to you in email.
Me: Good stuff.
By the time the dust settled in that email exchange it probably would have been more efficient to hop on a call.
Nevertheless, I don’t like phone calls.
Why?
It takes forever to get to the heart of the matter.
It’s the old “how are ya” routine which goes like:
- How’s it going?
- Where are you located?
- So what exactly do you do?
on and on and on.
Finally, five minutes later the call gets to the heart of the matter.
Also, if receiving a call, I end up getting interrupted.
I LOATHE interruptions.
With text-based correspondence, I can deal with it at my convenience.
Every time the phone rings out of the blue I have to stop what I’m doing.
I lose my train of thought.
The call takes way longer than I want it to.
When the call is over, it takes me a couple minutes to figure out what I was working on.
What about scheduled calls?
They’re worse.
It’s a cloud over my day.
I don’t like anything scheduled in my calendar.
I prefer wide-open days to do whatever I please.
That’s how I get a lot done.
I’m made for the digital age.
While I gripe about phone calls, I have to admit with email, texting, and Skype chat, I can avoid phone calls far more than pre-digital.
I’m grateful for that.
Nevertheless, unless I need something and the person I need something from insists on a call, I decline scheduling a call.
I get way more done.
I stay focused.
I stay sane.
Aren’t you being a little over-dramatic Jon?
Yes, of course, I am, to make a point.
A key to cranking out work is carving out time uninterrupted. It really is.
But the fact remains I still don’t like phone calls, much to the bane of extroverted colleagues who love nothing more than to “hop on a call”.
Jon runs the place around here. He pontificates about launching and growing online publishing businesses, aka blogs that make a few bucks. His pride and joy is the email newsletter he publishes.
In all seriousness, Jon is the founder and owner of a digital media company that publishes a variety of web properties visited and beloved by millions of readers monthly. Fatstacks is where he shares a glimpse into his digital publishing business.
