Tips for talking on the phone?

[Makenzie Lane]

I have trouble saying hello on the phone? Does anyone else have another greeting they use? I haven't made a phone call to anyone other than family for as long as I can remember...I avoid it whenever possible....anyone have any advice?

Makenzie, 17, U.S.

[Burt]

Try saying another word before it, like "oh, hello!", or using another word then hello. Why not say "good morning or good afternoon". I does not sound very standard, but it means the same thing, and it's better than staying stuck on the hello.

[Abraham Joshua Prieto]

I so feel ya on this. Surprisingly i worked for a hotel for about a year [stutter and all] and my main job was to book reservations and manage guest realtions. Talking on the phone was a nightmare the first few weeks, to where I thought, "this seriously has to be the hardest job for a stutterer."

Luckily, I found out that like Burt posted, answering by first stating 'good morning' or 'good afternoon' made things so so so much easier. Try it. Tell me how it goes.

:]