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When a rep, who obviously had a good relationship with his principal, started complaining about the number of voicemail messages he had to address from manufacturers, the principal nodded knowingly of his frustration. He quickly offered, "I'm hearing more and more of this from my reps. That's why I've changed the way I communicate with them. I've drastically cut back on phone calls, especially when all we're dealing with is general information and answers to questions. Instead I'm using e-mail and text."
For added support, here's what Piers Fawkes wrote on PSFK.com, a website devoted to covering trends and new ideas: "Something to ponder: on my phone are 36 unlistened-to voicemail messages. There have been 36 for a couple of weeks now because the 36 have filled the voicemail box somewhere on the AT&T's voicemail servers."
He continued, "Voicemail feels like it was a technology that was created to fill a gap - until something better came along. And now it has: Sure, ring me but there's no need to leave a message - I'll know you called and if you want to tell me something then the emerging modern etiquette evolving is you should just text or email me - not leave a voice message."
In a subsequent article, Fawkes writes, "Tech commentator, Mike Arrington, adds to the debate with a post on his site entitled 'Think Before You Voicemail' where he argues there's no need to leave a message. He says: 'But now an increasing number of people are just plain avoiding voicemail. It takes much longer to listen to a message than read it. And voicemail is usually outside of our typical workflow, making it hard to forward or reply to easily.'"
Arrington then explains that a typical voicemail greeting these days asks callers not to leave a voicemail, but email instead.
But moving back to the manufacturer and rep previously mentioned. The rep added, "I'm on the go all day long. I know if I devote too much time to a lengthy phone conversation, I'm not going to be nearly as productive as I could be. That's why this manufacturer has done me a favor by changing the way he operates. When he e-mails or texts, it's a response to...