I usually take have lots of meetings, but always try be available as much as possible to help others. I always make sure to gather with my team early in the morning, throw a few ideas around and get a feeling for things that just aren’t working. I try to give my team advice, motivate them, encourage them to try harder and depending on their excitement I will spend a little extra time with them.
Yet, most of the time I don’t hear back from half of them. I have no idea whether or not they are putting these new ideas into practices, whether they worked, failed or if they are valuable to me.
Part of my daily routine is to meet with people who are interested in my business and vice-versa. I recently came across a lovely couple who were interested in a business venture. They came in for the second time after our first meeting I introduced them to my team and some few ideas. Later on they followed up on all the intros and let me know what they thought of my team- which was really great because I hate when intro disappear into a void and don’t follow up. They also gave lots of good suggestions that they felt would help my business overall it was a very positive follow-up and productive meeting that helped us work on the next steps.
As an entrepreneur we get caught up doing everything, from shipping, customer service, sales, you name it we have to follow up on it. So when someonedoesn’t follow up on what they are supposed to really makes me cringe because at the end what was the point of the meeting, the phone call, the tracking number, if you don’t follow-up than you would be really wasting everyone’s time.
I know sometimes we get caught up doing a million other things that we forget to follow up or we just simply don’t know how to. Below are a few tips that might help you:
1. If it’s the first time you met with me and you want my business follow-up by: “Hi Loren, so great to meeting you, looking forward to a blossoming relationship.” I will be in touch with you next week for our second meeting.
2. Following up with questions and ideas are always welcomed: Even if I didn’t seemed engaged in the conversation or felt your idea wasn’t “worthy” you never know what other ideas you bring to the table that can entice me. Questions are alway helpful! The more questions you ask the better, this shows you are interested and researching other possibilities to engage me.
3. Make sure that you follow-up with the team: Sometimes I’m too busy so I will pass on some of my information to my key people. It’s important to follow-up with everyone you meet with, you never who they will lead to.
4. Make sure you follow through A-Z: This means you explored every possibility, you followed-up with everyone and you did everything in your power to make things happen.
