End a call? It’s rarely a matter of time, study finds

Regardless of who you’re on the phone with or the nature of the conversation, there’s a good chance that one of the two parties wants to hang up before the other. This is what the American researchers say after an analysis of nearly a thousand telephone conversations.

A thousand conversations

The researchers listened to conversations between strangers, family members and friends. They analyzed long conversations and short conversations and overheard chatter and heated discussions. Conversations hardly ever ended if both people wanted to. Who is writing The Guardian.

“How many communications and connections are lost in the world just because hundreds of millions of people who want to keep talking have to cut off the conversation,” the researchers ask.

Clarify expectations

The difference between what people wanted and what they got was often about half of the total conversation, the researchers conclude.

“It’s important to be honest and clearly articulate your expectations when making a phone call,” behavioral science professor Paul Dolan told the British newspaper.

Improve communication

“People often don’t dare say they only have 20 minutes for a phone call for fear of sounding rude. But it would greatly improve communication.