By Shane Granger

You might be leaving a bad impression without even showing your face!

Do you care what people think of you? Does it matter to you if others consider you intelligent, thoughtful and mature? Do you want adults to see you as trustworthy and responsible?

What sort of impression do you leave with others? What if you are making a bad one, and don’t even realize it?

One of the ways people form an impression of you is by how you use the telephone. The way you handle everyday phone calls reveals a lot about your character. How so?

People often form an impression of you as soon as they hear your voice over the telephone. They can see you as polite, considerate and well mannered. Or they can see you as rude, immature and brash.

Here’s how to make sure the impression you leave is a good one.

DO identify yourself. “Hi, this is Todd Maxwell, I’m calling for ….”

Immediately give your first and last name to the person who has just answered the phone. The person may know a lot of “Todds” and may not recognize your voice.

DON’T ask for the other person’s name before giving yours. Other person: “Hello?” You: “Who’s this?”

This is rude and offensive behavior. Be polite. After all, you are interrupting the other person’s day.

DO politely ask for someone if they themselves did not answer. “May I please speak to Susan, if she’s home?”

DON’T summon someone to the phone. “Put Casey on the phone, I want to talk to him.”

DO ask the person on the other line if they can take a message if the party you are calling isn’t home. “Would you mind giving Bill a message for me please?”

DON’T demand that the other person be your secretary. “Find Bill and tell him to call my cell phone right away! Our movie starts in 15 minutes, and he’s not here!”

Speak Up. Speech over the phone is often unclear. You might hear the other person perfectly while you sound muddy to them. Speak clearly, even slowly if necessary. If you don’t understand something you hear, politely ask the person to repeat it. Use please, thank you, and you’re welcome.

Time Zones. Remember that the United States covers four time zones, more if you include Alaska and Hawaii. Calling internationally means even greater time differences. Consider the time at the location you are calling before making the call. If you don’t know where you are calling, try to avoid late-night calls if you are on the West Coast or early-morning calls if you are on the East Coast.

Leave Clear Messages. If you leave a message on an answering machine, don’t take too long. Speak slowly and clearly. Leave the basic information—your name, number and the time you called—but don’t go into too much detail if you feel the person will call you back. Discuss the details later. If you expect to get a machine, you can compose a message before you even dial the number. It’s effective, and it’s polite.

Answering the Phone. When you answer a telephone, you can say “Hello,” but the best thing is to clearly say your name. This way, if someone is trying to reach you, they know they have reached you and there will be no confusion.

What do all these tips have in common? They demonstrate an attitude of respect and concern for others.

Using please and thank you leaves the impression that you are respectful, courteous and polite. Adults appreciate and admire a teenager who practices good telephone etiquette.

So the next time you pick up the phone, ask yourself: Is the impression I am about to leave a good one? Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to make a great one!