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Anyone who was watching a television news channel in April could hear the voice of a well-known actor/celebrity as recorded on his 11-year-old daughter’s cell phone. The message was filled with rage and obscenities.

A voicemail the actor left for his young daughter, in which he can be heard calling her a “rude, thoughtless little pig,” was published first – unfiltered and raw - by a celebrity news web site and then repeated on television dozens of times.

After his daughter failed to answer his scheduled telephone call, the actor became very angry and the tape of his shocking voice mail message was released. No one seems to know who released the recording, but the ex-wife is a prime suspect. The tape was heard around the world. A family law judge was so alarmed after hearing the voice mail message she temporarily barred the actor from having any contact with his child.

This was a stark reminder of the fact that the voice mail messages we leave are being recorded and can be played and replayed at any time, for any person anywhere.

Tempted to Leave an Angry Message?

Have you ever been annoyed by a prospect or customer who did not answer a scheduled call or who did not return your telephone call . . . and your second call . . . and third call after you left voice mail messages over and over again? If this has happened to you, you are not alone.

How to Leave a Tactful Voice Mail

If you were tempted to leave an angry voice mail message, think again. And again. Take a day and sleep on it. Then, think about everyone who might be listening to your message. Picture the entire world listening and then write down a kinder way to word your message.

Here is a tactful way to leave a message without letting your annoyance show.

“Hello [customer’s name]. This is [your name] at [your telephone number] calling from [your company]. I’m sorry we’ve been unable to connect, but I want to let you know that [time-sensitive benefit, i.e., “sale ends on the 30th of this month”] and I would hate to see you miss out on this opportunity. Please call me at [your telephone number]. Thank you.”

They Live Forever

If the movie actor who left the angry voice mail message for his daughter had taken time – before he left the message - to think about the effects of his message and the number of times his message would be played for the whole world to hear, he most likely would not have left the same message. This voice mail message – like any voice mail message – can live forever. u

Ann Barr is a consultant and sales trainer who has written eight books on sales and marketing. You can sign up for Ann’s free Weekly Sales Tips e-mailed newsletter at her web site www.sellingsupplies.com

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