The Common Sense Guide - It's Simply Common Sense: Phone Sense

So let's get started with something that happens to myself and Young Furterz all day, every day. It's also where this all began really.

Now for most people at work, it is common place to mention your name when you answer your phone.
Some like to include the company name, what department the caller has got through to, what the weather is like outside and how their mums Bingo night went. But your name is pretty much always mentioned.

So why is it that dispite answering my phone with the line "Hello Andy Speaking", do I then have to answer the question "Is Andy there?".
The other classic question is, "Who am I speaking to?".

These people simply are not worth wasting your time with. Of course some of them genuinely didn't hear your opening statement, but unfortunately there are just too many who fail to listen to what is being said to them. And as a result everyone has to be tarred with the same brush.

Simply just hang up. This is the only way you can deal with these people.

After all, if they can't be bothered to listen to your opening line, what chance do they have with the rest of the conversation. So your saving their time as well as your own.