Just Say Thank You

October 31st, 2009 | Posted in Kudos & Blunders | No Comments
Tags: , ,

Halloween is a time when witches, divas and superheros venture out for trick-or-treating. It’s also a time when you meet a lot of ungrateful munchkins. You know the ones. They come to your house in search of goodies, and before you know it, they’re off to the next house — without saying thank you.
It’s just wrong. But it especially stings when people go out of their way with elaborate halloween decorations. Those are the ones who give the best candy. Instead of getting a quick “thank-you” they hear things like: “Trick-or-treat, smell my feet, what you got for me to eat?”
Is a simple, heartfelt, “thank-you” really too much to ask? The same goes for business.
Some people are so busy that they forget how much it means to show appreciation for kind deeds, whether it’s a secretary or a vendor who produced on your behalf. Personally, I’ll take a thank-you any way I can get it — e-mail or a phone call. But there’s nothing like a short handwritten note. Not only does it impress people – because most people won’t do it – it makes people want to do things for you in the future. It might just mean they’ll take your call the next time you reach out to them. Or it might mean they’ll go out of their way to help you in the future.
No matter how busy you are, take a moment and say thank-you. But if you really want to leave an impression, or possible get a future referal, send a thank you note. Keep a box of thank you cards and stamps in your desk drawer to make follow-up easy.

Q. The day before my lunch date with a business associate, he asked me if he could bring another associate. It wasn’t my preference for a first meeting, but I felt like I should say it was OK, so I did. How should I have handled it?

October 14th, 2009 | Posted in Kudos & Blunders | No Comments
Tags: , , ,

A.Even if it’s not your preference, it’s difficult not to include someone at their request. If you were hoping to make a sale at a first meeting, I can see why you might want to meet alone. But a first meeting is generally just an introduction, allowing you to get to know each other a little better, so it shouldn’t matter. Why rock the boat before you can even get together?
Etiquette consultant Chris Bryant agrees – sort of. He believes the situation could be handled in two different ways, depending on the nature of the meeting.
“If the meeting purpose is of a personal or sensitive nature, it would be totally appropriate to express that although you look forward to meeting the other associate; if it’s all the same, you would prefer a more private meeting- at least initially? This would also be a good time to give further insight into what you would like to discuss and accomplish. That should definitely help your associate fully understand the basis for your request.”
After that, Chris said he would have made it clear, that after the initial meeting, he would look forward to meeting the other associate.
However, If it’s just an initial “getting to know you” type meeting, I would welcome the other associate to attend and just let it flow, said the founder of Rapport Strategies, in Beverly Hills, Ca. “You never know what value or perspective the other person would bring to the table and you can always follow-up with a more private meeting later,” he said.
Check out Chris at www.MrChrisBryant.com .