Full disclosure - I hate voicemail. My business associates (clients, employees, etc.) know my preferred method of communication is live conversation, email, or text with voicemail as a last resort.

I only leave voicemails if:

• I am calling someone at a scheduled time and they did not pick up

• I am connecting with a referral and do not have their email address

• I need to connect with someone and I don't have access to email (which is rare)

• I want to annoy someone

The majority of voicemails I receive are from vendors. Unless they state in the first five seconds that they were referred to me by a trusted source, I hit delete. I admit that I rarely listen to a voicemail from someone I know in it's totality - I simply call the person right back.

Apparently, many sales people do not share my disdain of voicemail. In a recent on-line discussion, about 66% of participants still utilize voicemail as a prospecting tool. They claim leaving short, concise, enticing messages will result in a large percentage of callbacks.

Most of the pro-voicemail people are in the business of selling sales training services such as prospecting best practices. Those who sell technology, financial services or other non-sales consulting products think leaving voicemails when prospecting is a waste of time, especially when calling on senior levels.

Is my anti-voicemail stance justified? Let me know....but don't be a wise guy and leave me a voicemail.