Being put on hold on the phone is a pet peeve for most of us. Although you may have to put a member on hold, it doesn’t have to be frustrating for the caller.

Here are a few courtesies that can make the wait a little more tolerable for the caller:

• Don’t multitask.When you try to do two things at once, you’ll be more likely to miss something important a member is trying to tell you.
• Ask before placing a caller on hold.Don’t just tell members to “please hold.” Give them a say by asking if they can hold. Wait until they respond, and then thank them.
• Don’t tell members you’ll put them on hold for “just a second.”Instead, give them a reasonable estimate of how long you’ll be away from the phone. Also give them an explanation of why they’ll be on hold.
• Faster doesn’t always mean better.Efficiency is great, but doing a poor job quickly won’t win you loyalty from anyone. Speed should always be second to carefully attending to a member’s needs.
• Take notes.Don’t rely on your memory. Writing notes during a phone conversation allows you to get a better record of the caller’s name and message, including the caller’s mood.

If you’re interested in learning more about if and how I can help you scale your coaching business, here are three ways we can work together:

1. Grab a copy of “High-Ticket Coach.” It’s my brand new book on how to create, launch and sell your high-ticket membership offer. You’ll also get a ton of free resources and tools to help sell your current membership offers.