How long would you like to hold? When you call a business, how long are you satisfied with being on hold? Most people in surveys answer that they don’t want to be on hold for more than two minutes. Two minutes may not sound long, but try this exercise: Sit down, keep your eyes open, and stare at a wall for two minutes. By the time you reach two minutes, you’ll be ready to tear your hair out. If you must keep a patient on hold for more than two minutes, volunteer to call them back. This will save the patient from becoming frustrated with the practice.