Butt-Dialing 101
My phone rang. Thanks to caller ID, I knew just who was calling.
"Hello," I said cheerily.
I could hear her voice, but clearly she wasn't speaking to me. I paused, thinking perhaps she had been interrupted by a third party in the time it took me to answer.
"Hello?" I attempted again.
She was still talking, still clearly not to me. I listened closely and could hear three distinct voices. She carried on normally, with an exchange that surprised me a bit. Eventually I disconnected the call, and to this day I doubt she knows I heard that exchange.
This got me thinking about my conversations - in the cafeteria, in the hallway, in the office, in patients' rooms, in the elevator, riding in the car with my friend or family. What if I accidentally butt-dialed someone and they overheard the entire conversation? Would they admire the level of respect and honesty in my words or would they disapprove of the gossip? Would they hear me encouraging or insulting or yelling?
What kind of impression are you leaving behind when you butt-dial?