The telephone is an often underrated and much maligned piece of office equipment. Have you stopped to consider how much business you do over the phone? These 10 tips will help you improve your telephone presence and your presentations.

1. You are the “First Impressions Manager” of your business. Every time you answer the phone, put a smile on your face first. It will improve your vocal quality and you will sound nice and relaxed.

2. Listen carefully to the person you are talking to. Remember why your dog is a good listener: listen actively and in the moment. Multitasking is the enemy of effective listening.

3. Let the others do the talking! Make sure the caller has completely finished speaking before answering. Remember: sometimes they haven’t finished talking; they are just going up for air.

4. Use open questions to get people to talk more freely. You should always speak less than the person you have called. It makes others feel more comfortable, especially if you ask them to make a decision. The more you talk, the easier it will be for them to “accept” what you are proposing.

5. To build affinity with callers, speed up or slow down your voice to better match theirs. They won’t figure out why they feel comfortable, they just will.

6. Use your words to get better results. Keep in mind that you can express anything in a positive, negative, or neutral way. Phrasing your words in a positive way will help you get better results more easily.

7. Voicemail can be your friend. Avoid leaving voicemail messages, but if necessary, think of it like a 30-second commercial on a highly rated radio show. You have the opportunity to get your message to the “ears” of your most desired audience. Your post should reflect this.

8. Plan your phone introductions in advance. Think of all the various scenarios you might face and write them down. This is called pre-call planning.

9. Record yourself for self-improvement. Listen carefully and decide which areas you want to improve.

10. Make an action plan. Focus on one area at a time. When you feel comfortable, move to the next area and repeat.

We use the telephone as our primary form of personal communication. People who are good with this medium increase their chances of success.