Posted by . September 15th, 2011 at 9:22 pm. Leave a comment.

I’m not a phone girl. As you may already know.

I’ll take e-mail over a phone conversation any day. Unfortunately, my job requires that I talk on the phone. But there is one thing I hate more than talking on the phone.

It’s voicemail.

Is there really anything worse than leaving your desk to use the bathroom or talk to a coworker for just a few minutes only to come back to that dreaded red light? OK, yes, there are many things that are worse. But you know what mean.

You see that red light and don’t know who the message is from or what they want. With email you have the benefit of a subject line.

Sometimes, leaving a voicemail makes sense. Introducing yourself to a new contact. Following up with someone who hasn’t responded to an email or two. But a message to say you got my e-mail and will answer my question soon? Not really necessary.

Fortunately for me, at work our voicemail also goes to our email. So while I eventually have to listen to the messages, I can mark that sucker as read and the red light on my phone disappears!

6 Comments ( Reply )

  1. MonsteRawr
    Sep 15, 2011 @ 10:21 pm

    I hate making work phone calls. HAAAAATE. I will send e-mail all day long, but I will do everything in my power to avoid making phone calls. Even ordering a pizza makes me uncomfortable. So voice mails fill me with dread because I know that a phone call will probably follow.

  2. Mrs_APF
    Sep 16, 2011 @ 12:18 am

    Second you on this one! Nothing is worse than the red light blinking, blinking, blinking- reminding you that you have an unheard message while you dread the thought of finding out who left the message and what it is they want.

  3. Amy
    Sep 16, 2011 @ 9:33 am

    I also hate making work phone calls – I go for email whenever possible. It only gets sucky when people start going crazy with “reply all” or the one-word “Thanks!” emails. But I avoid the phone like the plague. And I HATE voicemail. I always assume if it’s important enough to leave a voicemail, it’s bad news.

  4. Katie
    Sep 16, 2011 @ 9:56 am

    I don’t mind making phone calls with a purpose (i.e. I have a specific question, need to provide an answer, schedule a meeting), but I hate chit chatting on the phone. I’d much rather do it in person.

    As for voicemail? I’m so with you on walking away for a minute only to return to find a red light. It is irritating just to get into my voicemail and then I have to take notes on the message. An email means that notes are already taken (in the email!) and I won’t lose it like I might a post-it.

    But email can’t replace an actual discussion for getting answers and decisions made quickly. However, if I call someone and they don’t answer, I tend to send them an email rather than leave them a voice message. I find the details are more clearly stated in writing and then they don’t have to go through the irritating process.

  5. Viviana
    Sep 18, 2011 @ 1:02 am

    I, too, hate making phone calls. I also dislike leaving voicemail, especially when I’m expecting to speak to someone. I would rather communicate online any day if it can’t be in person.

  6. Melinda
    Sep 19, 2011 @ 1:55 pm

    Totally with you on this one! Also, with email, there is a paper trail. If someone changes their mind or later comes back and says they said one thing, when they actually said another, it’s much easier to find the evidence in email. It’s saved my *ss a number of times when someone initially approved something then later said they didn’t.