Everyone has their own phone, correct? So therefore it would make sense that every time you call someone, you are immediately connected to the person with whom you are wanting to talk, yes?
No. Not by a long shot.
I have watched, overheard, and yes, done it myself, automatically assuming that the person who answers the telephone is either the person I am wanting to speak with or the person who can help me.
An example for you: Our home telephone rings and my daughter answers with a friendly "hello" and then says nothing more. I watch as her expression goes from quizzical to "deer in the headlights" look. She simply hands me the telephone and I hear a very chipper voice on the other end of the line, rattling on with detailed instructions regarding my youngest son's dental surgery scheduled for the next morning. If the woman from the oral surgeon's office had taken a moment to ask to speak to me, she wouldn't have had to repeat all of that information twice.
Yes, we are all in a hurry, but asking to speak to someone is a part of telephone etiquette. Possibly having to leave a message because that person is not available is again, telephone etiquette. To immediately begin speaking to someone who has no idea what you are talking about because you don't take the time to ask the question is poor telephone etiquette.
It all speaks to your professionalism.
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Remember...
The basis for professional etiquette stands, in part, for displaying courteous behaviors during business interactions. Your comfort, knowledge and use of business etiquette can have a long
lasting and far reaching impact on your personal and professional life.
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