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The Annual Japanese Phone Answering Competition

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“Ohayou gozaimasu!” A record 12,613 office workers competed for the national title at the 52nd All-Japan Phone Answering Competition. Only one was crowned champion but the top finalists all exuded politeness and eloquence—and showed that formal phone answering is serious business in Japan. If you want to brush up on your own skills, take note of what it takes to win: “A strong contestant takes appropriate pauses between phrases, and stays friendly, but not overly friendly. Throughout, proper exclamations to signal attention and empathy must be used.”

Via nytimes.com link opens in a new window

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