Day 3: A Returned Call Matters

For the last couple of days I've been listening to voicemail to hear what messages I've conveyed about how much a person matters to me.  With my new project, living life like it matters, I'm giving added attention to calling people back. I have had times where I'll run into friends who ask me,"Did you get my message?" or "Do you know how to return calls?" 


Sometimes, I'm guilty of telling someone I'll call them right back but it may not occur for another day or two.  I sincerely intend to, but sometimes instead of saying I'm in the middle of something that may limit my ability to call I say I'll call them back then don't do it until days later. Other times, I get pulled into another set of calls and lose track of who I was to call.

I took time yesterday to listen to all my messages in a way I had never done before. Some messages reminded me that I need to handle my callers like they matter.

My friends and family messages have sent their own message to me too: Not calling back is like saying to someone, "you are not a priority."

I'm making my callers matter more. Today and moving forward I'm not telling the person I am going to call them right  back unless I know for sure I can do it. I will also ask callers if they are okay and if everything is alright. If they're not, I  will hang up from my current call.

Lesson 3 in Every Day Like It Matters:
Return your call calls to show someone they matter. If you're on another and call waiting sends you to another line, either let it go into voicemail or give a real return call time. 

Sales and Customer service organizations have SLAs, or service level agreements, which define how long it will take to resolve a customer's issue or follow up with a customers.

My life matters SLA is "same day or next day." If an emergency prevents me from calling back, I make sure I call the person as soon as I can and explain why, not make excuses like (you know how I am; I know I'm ragged; or don't be mad with me).


 I will no longer let an unreturned call send a wrong message about how I feel about the people in my life.