Chapter 8. Cliff-Hangers

NOTE

Caller: “Mr. Jones, please.”

Receptionist: “He’s gone.”

Caller: (without missing a beat) “Oh? When did he die?”

Replies such as “He’s gone,” and other one- or two-word answers are called cliff-hangers. They just leave people hanging. Cliff-hangers can be disappointing and frustrating for your callers. They are also thought of as rude.