![\"An](\"https:\/\/fullfocus.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/iStock_000000101363.jpg\" "\\"An")
<\/p>\nI thought it was about time to overhaul my standard voice mail greetings. I\u2019ve been following the same procedure<\/a> for several years.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I generally update my office phone message daily. I liked providing the current date to let callers know that I was checking my messages regularly. But that has proven to be more trouble than it\u2019s worth.<\/p>\n
So, I have now gone to this greeting:<\/p>\n
Note that I am trying to redirect people to e-mail. This is much more efficient to me than playing the inevitable phone tag, going through the usual chit-chat when we finally connect, and then getting to the reason for the call. Granted, sometimes calls\u2014or even face-to-face meetings\u2014are necessary. But in my experience, 90% of calls or meetings could be better handled via e-mail.<\/p>\n
My cell phone greeting is similar, except that you can\u2019t bypass the message by pressing \u201c1\u201d:<\/p>\n
A few days ago, I wrote about trying to break my e-mail addiction. It is working out remarkably well. However, I have now shortened by auto-responder message. I want to set people\u2019s expectations, but I don\u2019t think I need to go into the long rationale I was previously providing. Here is my current one:<\/p>\n
I have received your e-mail message. However, I am not currently online.<\/p>\n
Just so you know, I generally read and respond to e-mail twice a day\u2014usually in the middle of the workday and then again before I leave the office. I do not check e-mail in the evenings or on weekends.<\/p>\n
If you need faster response than this\u2014and your request is truly urgent\u2014call Vicki Parr, my assistant, at (555) 555-5555 or call my cell phone.<\/p>\n
Kind regards,<\/p>\n
Mike<\/p><\/div>\n
Changing these messages is part of my continuing quest to be more productive and yet get people what they need.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I thought it was about time to overhaul my standard voice mail greetings. I\u2019ve been following the same procedure for several years. I generally update my office phone message daily. I liked providing the current date to let callers know that I was checking my messages regularly. But that has proven to be more trouble than it\u2019s worth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[53,90,1675,1676,30,1677,1678,1072,222],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n