Sticky Situation:
I am often on the phone
speaking with buyers
who may be from a different country,
with a very strong accent. Sometimes
I have a hard time, no matter
how hard I concentrate, understanding
what they are saying to me.
How can I politely ask them to repeat
what they are saying without being
rude? Would it be rude to ask the
person to e-mail their request?
Thank you for your time in this
Answer:
Your question is important, because we all experience some problems getting information on the phone. It can be from a cell phone where the sound isn't clear, from background noise, or from a buyer with an accent. My suggestion is to repeat what the person said, and ask them to verify if this is correct. Write it down as you hear it, so you can see it on paper.
Don't get flustered about asking for verification. Calmly say that you just want to repeat their information to make sure everything is correct. Don't forget that foreign customers may have this experience with other companies as well.
You can certainly ask them to send you an e-mail, saying that you want to make sure you got everything correct. Or you can get their e-mail address, and follow up with an e-mail to them, to assure you have their order correctly. Anything you do that is polite and sincere is fine. Most important is to give your clients good service, in a friendly manner. I'm sure you are great at this!
Sticky Situation:
When I leave the table
during a business meal, I never know where to put my napkin.
My friend says to leave it on the table, but I thought I
should drape it over the back of the chair. What's the best
thing to do? Kevin, Miami Beach
Answer:
When you leave the table for
a few moments, put your napkin on the seat of your chair. This
signals to the server that you will be returning. When you
have finished your meal, put your napkin on the table, beside
your plate. This signals that you have finished eating. Never
put a soiled napkin on the table before you have finished
eating.
Sticky Situation:
I have a really nice blouse that I wear to work occasionally. Whenever I wear it I get compliments on how great I look, and then people ask if I'm going to a party after work. What gives?
Answer:
What message are you really sending? If people think you're ready to party, your blouse is wrong for the office. Is the material shiny, or see-through? Is the blouse low-cut or revealing? If so, keep it for evening wear.
Stick to crisp fabrics like cotton, in power neutral colors like white, cream or light blue for day. At work you want to be remembered for what you say, not noticed for your eye-catching outfit.
Do you have a problem we can help with?
Send us your question and we'll send you our free tip sheet, "Color Power: How to Use Color to Send the Right Message."
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