In today’s world, communication is easier, faster, and more effective than ever before. This has made handling and dealing with both personal and professional matters a piece of organic, gluten-free, and dairy-free cake. And while the methods and ways in which people communicate are far superior than those from past generations, this comes at somewhat of a steep price that many are unknowingly paying on a regular basis.

It seems ironic that while digital communication is better than it’s ever been, face to face and in-person communication skills are at an all time low. Be honest; people are more awkward than ever before over the phone and especially in person, which is unsurprising considering how over-reliant on electronic communication society has become.

You may have already noticed how awkward phone and in person communication is in both your personal and professional life. And while awkward communication in your personal life can surely wreak havoc — think miscommunication and unnecessary drama — poor communication in your professional life can have dire consequences, especially if you’re a business owner. This is where a live telephone answering service, otherwise known as a national answering service or live operator answering service, comes into play.

A national answering service can work wonders in terms of providing clear, friendly, and exceptional customer service to customers without all the frustrating awkwardness that comes with poor communication skills. After all, the talented and professional men and women who staff national answering services and call handling services are highly trained and precise in what they do. This allows them to handle, field, and address incoming calls in the most effective ways possible.

Perhaps one of the greatest and wisest things a business owner can do is to realize what their strengths are and what their weaknesses are. It’s far better to hone one area of your business rather than be a jack of all trades but a master of none.

For example, you might be excellent at handling accounting and other business financial matters, however you might have poor communication skills with customers. You might believe that you’re saving money by not hiring a professional answering service, while in reality this mistake could be costing you thousands if not more in lost business opportunities. It only takes one poor customer service experience to lose a valuable customer — which is why they’re so often referred to as valued — which is why it’s so critical for business owners to invest in a live phone answering service.

Hiring a national answering service can work for any business, regardless of industry, trade, or size. This is especially true for smaller businesses, where contracting a national answering service can leave customers with an impressed and positive first impression. It may even make the size of a small business seem larger. Likewise, national answering services can work wonders for larger businesses, especially medical and dental offices. A 24 hour answering service can help doctors, dentists, and other medical professionals communicate with their patients in the best ways possible.

A professional answering service allows business owners to focus on other operational aspects of their business, which is essential for growth. Business owners can rest assured that their customers are being well taken care while they focus on expansion and managing day to day business operations. This sense of peace of mind is priceless, as business owners already have a myriad of things on their mind and plates already. Putting the focus on providing exceptional personal customer service will be greatly appreciated in a world that relies on digital communication.