When you are sitting near your friend or coworker, it is easy to make them feel good with a special look, a smile of just saying something in a special way. So how can you create that same closeness or special feeling when they are miles away? How can you connect with that person on the phone when you can't give them a hug or a pat on the back?

The answer is simple. All you have to do is call them by name far more often than you would in person. When your listener hears it, it becomes a verbal caress to them. The best way to use their name is at the beginning or end of a sentence:

"Betty, it is great to talk to you again".
"You new job sounds so exciting, Bob".

If you say their name too often in person, it sounds overdone. When you are on the phone, it is totally different. Have you ever noticed how you perk up at a gathering when someone mentions your name? This is the same effect with all of the other distractions that may be around the listener. If your listener's mind starts to wander, or they start to multi-task, hearing their name will bring them right back. It's the verbal caress that keeps them listening and tuned in to you.