Phoneta chats: Telephone answering and business growth with the Cornwall Channel
Work-Life Balance.
It’s mental health awareness week and we want to talk about the elusive ‘work-life balance’, highlighted as one of the main contributors to mental health problems. In the UK 1 in 4 people will experience mental health problems at some point in their lives, and the Mental Health Foundation highlights the pressure of an increasingly demanding work culture as one of the most pressing challenges to the mental health of the general population.
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This famous quote resonates with the team here: “If you do not make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness” and it is along these lines we are creating our work-life balance policies and incorporating wellbeing into everything we do for our staff. But what about when you are starting or running your own company?
It’s a socially accepted narrative that ‘putting in the hours’ in business is praised, and start-up companies are expected to take over the owner’s life. But it doesn’t have to be like this, there are strategies that can be put in place to help improve your own work-life balance. Based on our own policies we have some advice on how you can improve your work-life balance when starting or running your own company.
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By setting specific work hours you set your own time frames to work and will have greater focus and productivity within these times.
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We all got so caught up in other people’s demands that sometimes we forget we can say no. Haven’t got the time to attend that meeting? A friend asks you to go to a networking session? Remember you can say no.
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In the same way we can schedule working hours, we can also take the same approach and make sure we plan personal time into our calendar. Having a regular routine and planned hours means we are expecting to spend that time doing what we love, and are less likely to get caught up in any work demands during this time.
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Imagine if every hour you spent at work was a productive hour, how much more free time you would have. We all fall foul to a social media scroll or an unimportant call distracting us from our current task. There are programmes available to block yourself from unproductive websites, notifications are easily turned off, and your phone doesn’t have to always be on. Give yourself some dedicated focus time, so when your scheduled work finish time arrives you know you have achieved as much as you can, and you deserve the time to relax.
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5. Play to your own strengths
Focus on what you’re good at and do it. You don’t have to be perfect at everything, and you certainly won’t have the time to do it all. Not sure about social media? Outsource. Need some copy for the website? Outsource? Need someone to answer your calls whilst you’re busy? Outsource.
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f6. Spend some time in nature.
This year’s theme from the Mental health Foundation is Nature. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can lift your mood, reduce anxiety and is part of the Mental Health Foundation, awareness week campaign.
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We know when reading these many of you will be thinking ‘how can I stop working or turn off my phone?’ You’ll be worried about missing leads, or your current customers being unable to get hold of you.
This is where an answering service can help, outside of your dedicated working hours you can set up your divert so all your calls are still answered, details captured and emailed through to you, ready for your reply once you are back at work. Allowing you to prepare before replying and prioritising the most important calls first. An answering service can even filter your calls, meaning any sales or marketing calls no longer disturb your day. Phoneta are more than just an answering service, we become an extension of your team, and whilst we can’t promise to make your business a success, we can be here to help improve your work-life balance on the journey.
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Get in touch today to find out how we can help you.
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In 1993, LaVerne Caddy bid farewell to his 35-year career in the ambulance service, unwilling to fully retire. He embarked on a new venture, Wenvern Paging, operating from his own kitchen. LaVerne’s innovative business answered late-night and emergency calls for doctors.
These calls were meticulously routed to on-call emergency physicians, addressing a pressing need at the time – the lack of a service offering such coverage. Back then, doctors juggled their late-night calls, compromising their work-life balance. Moreover, even mundane appointment requests disrupted their rest.
Wenvern Paging revolutionised this scenario, filtering calls and ensuring doctors were only alerted for genuine emergencies. With a mere two telephones in the kitchen, the venture extended its service to cover 90% of doctors’ surgeries in Cornwall and numerous others across the South West.
However, as the healthcare landscape evolved, so did Wenvern Paging. The emergence of Kernow doc and subsequently the 111 service led to decreased demand for Wenvern’s services. Adapting to the changing environment, the company rebranded as Kernow Business Messaging Service (KBMS) and identified a new market – veterinarians.
Over the next few years, KBMS extended its after-hours emergency cover to veterinary practices. This not only helped vets achieve a better work-life balance but also ensured reliable assistance for distressed animals. As time passed, KBMS’s scope expanded further. It evolved into Phoneta, a 24/7, 365-day telephone answering service catering to diverse businesses across various industries nationwide. The company’s workforce grew substantially, currently employing over 60 individuals across two office spaces.
In 2017, Phoneta emerged as the definitive solution for those requiring professional telephone answering services. While serving clients from myriad sectors, a remarkable trend emerged – a significant number of doctors’ surgeries began to return to Phoneta’s fold.
The advent of the 111 service prompted most surgeries to route calls to 111 after 6:30 pm, resuming direct operations at 08:00 am. However, operational hours often clashed with certain surgeries, resulting in gaps in their service coverage. Phoneta seized this opportunity, offering a “top and tail” service. This bridge service effectively covered the interval between the end of the 111 service and the surgery’s opening and closing times.
During this span, Phoneta managed calls on behalf of doctors, promptly addressing patient concerns. In cases where the surgery remained closed, patients were informed and emergencies were routed to the appropriate channels. Notably, Phoneta isn’t just bridging the gap left by the 111 service; it also addresses closures during lunch breaks, staff training, and unforeseen situations such as staff shortages or COVID-19 risks.
Phoneta’s rekindled relationship with its early adopters speaks volumes. The doctors who once valued its services 29 years ago are returning with excitement, confident in the reliability of Phoneta’s solutions.
If you’re seeking assistance for your business or require more information about our comprehensive call-answering services, please reach out to us at 01209 311311.
We’re here to support you.
Richard Woods, our Sales and Marketing Director, discusses #Lockdown and #Homeworking with The Cornwall Channel in their first-ever podcast.
Find out more about us here: www.phoneta.co.uk
Give us a call on 01209 823456 to find out how we can help you.
To find out more about the new podcast service: www.cornwallchannel.co.uk
Together, we have faced a truly extraordinary situation, the global Covid-19 pandemic has affected all of our lives, personally and professionally. At Phoneta, we consider ourselves as one team with your business and take our role in supporting you very seriously. We have endeavored to be your one constant in this crazy period. To achieve this Phoneta has been focused on three key areas:
To hit these targets we have had to adjust our key operating procedures, and we thank you all for your continued support and understanding whilst these adjustments were made:
This crisis has affected us all in unexpected ways, however, we cannot deny that some of the effects have created positive outcomes. Our new system has streamlined and improved our service, and our home working option gives us greater cover and flexibility for the times you need us most. Whilst the future may be much different than we expected, Phoneta hopes to keep improving and innovating to bring you the best possible service. We are here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whenever you need us.
Thank you for your support and loyalty at this time.
Anthony Caddy & The Phoneta Team.