One of my pet peeves is the outgoing message on a seemingly friendly and helpful voicemail that ends with, “I’ll call you back at my earliest convenience.”

Your earliest convenience? So, you’ll get to me when you get to me? Because that’s what I understand, at least on a subconscious level, when I hear those words.

Look, we all know that you’ll call me back when you’re good and ready – or you’ll choose to not call me back. I realize that you’re not going to drop everything else to return my phone call – unless, of course, you’re desperate to speak with me and just can’t wait another moment. (Nope, not even my kids fall into that category, unless they need $$$.)

OK, so you want to reassure people that you will be in contact with them if they leave a message. How about?

“I’ll return your call as soon as possible.”

In my opinion, a time-frame promise is even better: “I return all phone calls within one business day.”

Of course, in the end, the most important thing is to actually return that phone call; but unreturned phone calls is another topic!