Unfortunately, in my line of work that isn't an option. As an executive assistant, I receive voicemails and leave voicemails all day long.
But it gets more unfortunate.
I should NEVER be allowed to leave voicemails. Try as I might...I manage to fumble my way through them every single time.
Examples of why Kelsey shouldn't be allowed to give voicemails (actual things I've said):
- "I was just returning your call. Please call me back at (my number) and I'll see if I can help you out. I will be out this afternoon...so...if you want you can leave a voicemail so I can call you back. But otherwise I'll hear from you, wait. No. Well, I mean if you call before after noon I will call you back next week!"
- "Hi, this is Kelsey, Rocky's assistant just....................................................Oh, um, I'm sorry I spaced out there. I'm calling you back. You left me a message. About something."
- "...and I uh...um...I'm so sorry. I'm awful at leaving voicemails."
Those things were actually said. Those things are only THREE of the things I've said. Because of them, I've created this list.
Ways to Know You Can't Voicemail Like the Pros:
- Your mind goes blank on the person's name the second the phone starts ringing.
- You're trying to play back the message while the phone rings so you don't call them the wrong name.
- You get the name and are psyched, only to get thrown to voicemail.
- You're so distracted by having tried to find their name that you can't remember what you're supposed to say just as the phone *beep*
- You start off in a stammer.
- You say "uh" a lot.
- Realizing you keep saying "uh" you switch to "um"
- "Uh, um" doesn't sound much better, so you mentally chastise yourself to not say either.
- You realize it wasn't mentally...it was audible chastising while leaving the message.
- You now sound crazy.
- You wonder if you are crazy.
- In the moments you've been wondering, you've been completely silent on the voicemail recording.
- You were mid sentence and -
- Now you're panicking.
- Panicking leads to more "ums"
- Finally, you laugh at yourself, apologize, leave your callback number and hang up
- After all that, you look at the number you called and the message you references...
- They don't match.
Just kidding. This makes me sound like I'm inept at my job. Truth is I HAVE done all of those things, but hopefully not all at once (most extreme voicemail fail EVER).
What average, everyday thing are you awful at? Please make me feel better ;)
6 comments:
You can practice on my machine, I'd enjoy it, and I promise not to judge. Only thing is I don't listen to those messages but a few times a year. I figure if it is important, they'll call my cell. LOL. So feel free.(Then text and tell me you did, so I can listen.)
:D
It is pretty much most daily things that I'm awful and somewhat inept at. Keeping up with laundry, doing dishes, putting things in their places (Who sets up their places? oh no! Really? Fail).
Well that made me laugh Kelsey, and I needed that. You described my nightmare scenario for phone calls. I am the person who pleads, "please go to voice mail, please go to voice mail," so I don't have to talk to anyone. Then I hear a "hello...." Crap, who did I call? I was to busy hoping for no answer that I forget why I called.
As for life fails, I can not spell to save my life.... I struggled with "spell" for a second... I also Googled "scenario" because I misspelled it so bad that the checker didn't know what the heck I wanted. I often have to find new words when I text so because I can't seem to get a word spelled right.
You would think that would make me like phone calls vs texts because I don't have to spell then.... but that somehow doesn't compute as well.... maybe I just fail at communication? :P
I hate voice mails, probably more than anything. I heard my own voice mail from my husbands phone the other day, when I called him about something, and cringed. I just don't like the sound of my own voice, I guess. Also, I freeze. I never know what to say.
As a former church secretary, I can totally relate. I recommend writing down what you need to cover before calling them. I.e. Name, reason they called, answer to their message. Helps the answering machine impaired keep on track.
As for what I'm horrible at... Laundry. I hate folding clothes so they typically don't get past the clothes basket (the last load usually doesn't get past the dyer until laundry day the next week).
I also hate doing dishes, but we have a dishwasher now so I'm better than I used to be.
Oh Kelsey.
When I call you im pretty good at remembering you name but my phone number ill just dont leave it lol!! :) Ps I do like to do voicmails at all but soometimes hate it.
The thing is love your picture of you and ya did died you hair again but much more good on you..
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