Few things are more annoying to busy executives than the endless stream of sales calls they get every day. Perhaps you survive with the keen insight, wit and experience of a dedicated assistant who swipes callers away like so many pesky mosquitoes.
You might not believe some of the tactics callers use to wiggle their way past your gatekeeper. OfficeTeam, a Menlo Park, Calif.-based staffing service, collected some of the innovative tactics.
- “It’s really between her and me … please put me through.”
- “I’m calling to follow up on an important matter we discussed last month.”
- “If you don’t connect me right now, I’ll have to march down to your office. Don’t make me do that.”
- “If he’s not available now, I’ll just catch him at home tonight. By the way, do you happen to have the number handy?”
- “Your CEO suggested I call to discuss an upcoming project.”
- “I’m an old friend from her past. It’s a surprise.”
- “This is her boyfriend. I need to speak with her before someone else calls her.”