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How to Avoid Sounding Stupid in a Voice E-mail. Who hasn't left a cringe-worthy message? Here's
how to make sure it never happens again. You will need Forethought A quiet spot Brevity
and a smile. Step 1. Think about what you want to say before you make the call. If you
tend to ramble, write it down in bullet-point or list form. Avoid repeating "I," as in "I
want," "I need," "I'd like." Making the call all about you is off-putting. Step 2. Dial
from a quiet spot so your message doesn't compete with background noise. Step 3. Leave
your phone number toward the beginning of the message, so the person doesn't have to
listen to the whole rigmarole again just to jot it down. Then, repeat it at the end so
they can double-check it. Speak slowly enough when leaving your phone number so that the
person you're calling can easily understand it and write it down. Step 4. Keep it short.
Think of it as a three-part message: who you are, the subject you're calling about, and
what you would like the person to do. Step 5. Even if you sound kinda stupid to everyone
around you, if you speak clearly and not mutter, it will be much easier to understand for anyone
who is listening. Remember, the call quality might be poor, especially if it is on speaker
phone. Step 6. Smile as you speak. Research shows that smiles are detectable in your voice,
and put the listener in a better mood to receive your message. Did you know In 1935, Willy
Muller invented the world's first answering machine, a three-foot-tall apparatus for Orthodox
Jews, who can't answer the phone on the Sabbath.