The next time you\u2019re making calls to invite people to serve in ministry, be aware of what you\u2019re conveying on the phone. These six simple steps will help you communicate clearly and enthusiastically.<\/p>\n
1. Prepare<\/strong>\u2014Before you call, pause to think about what you\u2019re going to say. Many people are put off by the \u201cbeep\u201d of answering machines and begin to stammer. By preparing your thoughts beforehand, you\u2019ll present a message with a much stronger chance of receiving a positive response.<\/p>\n 2. Engage\u2014<\/strong>You may think \u201cI\u2019m only leaving a message,\u201d but that doesn’t mean it has to be dull. Use good inflection in your voice, with no monotone. Aim for a conversational delivery, as if you were speaking face-to-face. Your volunteer will \u201cfeel\u201d your enthusiasm and pay more attention to your message.<\/p>\n 3. Empower\u2014<\/strong>Avoid disempowering statements such as \u201cI\u2019m just calling about….\u201d or \u201cI hate to bother you, but….\u201d Instead say, \u201cI\u2019m excited to let you know about….\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m so pleased to share some news with you….\u201d Your words set the tone of the experience, so choose them thoughtfully.<\/p>\n 4. Acknowledge<\/strong>\u2014Feel guilty for leaving repeated messages for a volunteer? Address the fact that you know you’ve contacted a person several times; for example, \u201cI appreciate you listening to another message from me, and I\u2019m certain we\u2019ll connect soon.\u201d Such a statement makes it clear that you\u2019re aware of your persistent attempts and look forward to making a person-to-person connection soon.<\/p>\n 5. Affect\u2014<\/strong>Be personable! Don\u2019t feel so attached to your specific reason for calling that you fail to add a personal touch to the message. People love to connect and bond with others, so use these small windows of opportunity to touch volunteers\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n 6. Affirm\u2014<\/strong>You can\u2019t say thank you too many times. Thank team members for taking the time to listen to your message. Also thank them in advance for responding to your call. Everyone leads busy lives, so thanking volunteers in the course of a phone message lets them know you appreciate them and their time.<\/p>\n Equip anyone who makes phone calls to contact volunteers with these phone tips. Then your whole team will be more effective when using the phone for ministry connections!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The next time you\u2019re making calls to invite people to serve in ministry, be aware of what you\u2019re conveying on the phone. These six simple steps will help you communicate clearly and enthusiastically. 1. Prepare\u2014Before you call, pause to think about what you\u2019re going to say. Many people are put off by the \u201cbeep\u201d of answering machines and begin to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":30107,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[129,6,670],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-recruit","category-training","category-volunteers"],"yoast_head":"\n