Some people find it hard just talking on the phone but when it's someone you dislike you feel as if you are wasting a whole lot of time!
1Avoid asking questions that could make the phone call last any longer. Questions with one word answers or things like "How are you?" which don't tend to end in horribly long answers are good. Whereas questions like "What do you think of *insert whatever*" are not as good as people could start expressing views and things could drag on.Ad
2Try to agree with whatever they say.. even if you don't! OK, you don't like them so this may be hard but you'd rather agree with them just this once than have a long debate on why you disagree with them.
3If you where the one who called them try to get straight to the point of why you phoned without sounding rude.
4If you're quite a nice person you could always just try to talk to them like you would your friends. You never know you might find out you both have a lot in common.
5If all else fails and things become awkward you could always make up an excuse to get off the phone. I'd advise things on the line of "It's been nice talking to you but I'm afraid I've got to go out in an hour and need a shower" and not "OH NO! I've just remembered I've left a pan of heating oil on the stove and need to turn the heat down right away before the house catches fire and I die" as they will be able to tell you just don't want to be on the phone with them... and no ones that stupid.. I hope! :)Ad
We could really use your help!
- If you don't want them to know you don't like them then be polite! :)