ATTEMPTS TO BYPASS ASSISTANTS CAN BACKFIRE.

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Cut out the middle man. Go straight to the top. Start with the decision-maker. This all seems like good advice to anyone striving to make the sale or get immediate results, but those who try to circumvent an administrative or executive assistant may see their approach backfire. OfficeTeam, a nationwide staffing service specializing in the placement of administrative professionals, polled managers on the most "innovative" tactics used to bypass their assistants. The comments, while seemingly clever, only served to undermine the credibility of the callers.

Some callers rely on mystery to get to the top person:

* "I don't need to give you my name; he'll know who's calling."

* "It's really between her and me. Please put me through."

* "I'm a former colleague who has information she might find interesting."

* "I'm calling to follow up on an important matter we discussed last month."

* "We have a mutual friend."

Others rely on urgency or threats to speed their connection:

* "I'm Mary, calling long-distance at an airport. If I don't speak to him right now, he won't be able to call me back."

* "I'm on a cell phone right now, but I can hold."

* "If you don't connect me right now, I'll have to march down to your office. Don't make me do that."

* "Your CEO suggested I call to discuss an upcoming project."

Still others hint at a personal reason for their call:

* "I'm an old friend from her past. It's a surprise."

* "This is Jack. I'm calling regarding his investment status."

* "It's Ann, calling with an invitation to a special event."

* "I'm with a collection agency and must reach her personally."

* "This is her boyfriend. I need to speak with her before someone else calls her."

* "I must talk with him regarding an audit we're doing."

* "Tell him it's Sam ... from the payroll department."

* "If he's not available now, I'll just catch him at home tonight. By the way, do you happen to have the number handy?"

"First-time callers who make vague, exaggerated, or falsely urgent statements risk alienating not just the assistant, but his or her...

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