Calling back at one's "Earliest Convenience" (person, house, messages)
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i have noticed the same thing as the poster, and it drives me crazy. To me it is an example of someone repeating a phrase in the wrong context and not even paying attention to what they are saying. The person appears to be conflating "i'll call you back" with what the listener might say as a response, that is, "oh, thanks, at your earliest convienience would be fine".
Because of this un-thinking mash-up, the result is that the speaker is unwittingly giving the response that he would expect to hear. The secondary result is that the listener thinks he is a dufus.
Would you rather me just say, "I'll call you back whenever I feel like it?" I mean, how else do I get it across to you people? I'm not going to say, "I'll call you back ASAP", because that's not true. I might not get back to you right away if I am already tied up.
Or is it that you expect your phone call to be expedited, and everything else go to the wayside because you think your call is that much more important than anything else I am doing?
I already explained it. I wasn't over-analyzing one stupid message. It was a trend I was noticing happening more and more, and I went from vaguely noticing it, to feeling a little teeny bit uneasy at hearing people say that, then I stepped back and examined the situation to wonder why I was getting that uneasy feeling. Then I concluded that it was because I was perceiving this practice as subtly rude. And it's pretty clear now that I'm not alone.
Would you rather me just say, "I'll call you back whenever I feel like it?" I mean, how else do I get it across to you people? I'm not going to say, "I'll call you back ASAP", because that's not true. I might not get back to you right away if I am already tied up. But if you are tied up then it's not yet "possible. " You are still calling the person back as soon as possible. ASAP doesn't mean "right away" it means as soon as possible.
Or is it that you expect your phone call to be expedited, and everything else go to the wayside because you think your call is that much more important than anything else I am doing?
No, my outgoing greeting/message says that I'll call back as soon as I am able. Saying "when I feel like it" or "when it's convenient for me" would just be rude.
It's not about me, as a caller, feeling like my call is the most important or should be expedited above all others, but about the other person's greeting implying that all of our calls are just something she will deal with when she deems it "convenient." We aren't supposed to attend to necessary work tasks when it's "convenient," but when they must be completed, taking into consideration that there are other entities, within our company and without, that are all interdependent on these tasks.
No, my outgoing greeting/message says that I'll call back as soon as I am able. Saying "when I feel like it" or "when it's convenient for me" would just be rude.
It's not about me, as a caller, feeling like my call is the most important or should be expedited above all others, but about the other person's greeting implying that all of our calls are just something she will deal with when she deems it "convenient." We aren't supposed to attend to necessary work tasks when it's "convenient," but when they must be completed, taking into consideration that there are other entities, within our company and without, that are all interdependent on these tasks.
That's obvious. Anyone with a work history knows that. Does it need to be spelled out on a voicemail message?
No, my outgoing greeting/message says that I'll call back as soon as I am able. Saying "when I feel like it" or "when it's convenient for me" would just be rude.
It's not about me, as a caller, feeling like my call is the most important or should be expedited above all others, but about the other person's greeting implying that all of our calls are just something she will deal with when she deems it "convenient." We aren't supposed to attend to necessary work tasks when it's "convenient," but when they must be completed, taking into consideration that there are other entities, within our company and without, that are all interdependent on these tasks.
You must feel like you're beating your head against the wall. The same people who think it's perfectly fine, and even normal, to say something like this in their outgoing greeting (and the ones accusing you of being too obsessive and "bent out of shape" for noticing that there's something wrong with it) are the ones who have absolutely no chance of understanding the point you are trying to get across.
Well, don't worry about it. I get it and I'm with you! Also, these writing, language and professionalism bloggers agree with you and have blogged about this issue before.
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