Handling Voicemail

Bob Parsons talks the same language as me when it comes to voicemail:

I’ve got a few tips for handling voice messages.
I also found it makes sense to be careful as to how you respond to voice messages left on your telephone.

If someone wants me to return a call, I’ve got to know what they want.
If someone just leaves a name and phone number and I don’t know who they are and what they want, I will never return the phone call. This doesn’t, of course, include messages I receive from family and friends.

I very rarely return any voice message.
If someone leaves their name and number with a message without detailing what they want, it’s been my practice to very rarely return the call. For me to return any call, the message has to be understandable, it has to be of immediate interest to me and it has to be something that I want. If a message left on your phone doesn’t meet these criteria, I think it’s nuts to return the call.

Messages left by customers always get handled.
If a customer leaves a message I will always have someone from our customer service department return the call. That assumes of course that the call relates to a problem with one of our products or a question concerning its use. If someone leaves a message saying they are a customer, and then want to sell me something, I smile – because there is no one I appreciate more than customers. That said, these messages are also subject to my earlier requirement of immediate interest and something that I want. Seldom will these calls be returned.