How to Take a Phone Message

This is an interactive skill between the caller and the message taker. A good rule is to take the kind of messages you would like to receive.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Answering Machines
• Pencils
• Fountain Pens
• Pencil Sharpeners
• Pencils
• Spiral Notebooks
• Pencils

1. Write it down on a piece of paper - not an envelope, a laundry bill or the edge of another message.

2. Include the caller's name, company, telephone number with area code, and a brief message.

3. Note the time the call came in.

4. Ask for correct spellings!

5. Write your initials so the recipient knows who to ask for clarifications, if they're needed.

6. Leave the message somewhere the recipient is sure to see it: a desk chair, the refrigerator, etc.

7. Notify the recipient that the message came in, even if it's not urgent.

on 2/16/2006 Crease the message paper down the center. Set it like a tent on the recipient's desk or in mailbox. This will be noticed more easily.

on 11/22/2005 If you didn't get all of the phone number, don't try and recall what they said. Make sure you ask them to repeat the phone number, so that you know for sure that you wrote down the correct one, even if you are confident. You can never be too careful.