If you’re like most everyone else these days - myself included - you don’t always get a reply to every email you send, do you? This is especially true if you’ve ever written someone important. This is what I like to call a 'wishful email'. You are essentially looking for a favor from a busy person.
This applies to everyone, whether you're writing to your congressman, or even when I'm writing a potential client, to whomever your favorite marketing guru is... someone like, say, Sir Richard Branson. Whatever the case may be, there is virtually no difference.
There is certainly a psychological component to this type of interaction. First, however, I feel it is of utmost importance to remove yourself from the equation. Really, it doesn’t matter how bad you think you need help, or that you’re a busy person. At the end of the day, you’re asking for someone to take time out of their day to simply reply, correct? Even though you want something, in order to get it, you need to make it simple for the recipient of your request to deliver. Makes sense, right? But if my inbox is any indication, you might be setting yourself up to get ignored anyway, and that’s certainly not what we're trying to accomplish. Let’s remedy that, shall we?
Here's where I like to implement the Golden Rule of Communication:
How much time and thought are you expecting in a reply? Put that much time and thought into the request, and you're already off to a phenomenal start.
In my mind, there are just three strategies for doing just that.
1.) Build Rapport
A little flattery never hurt, but not too much. You want this person invested in your request, right? Then make it matter to them as much as it matters to you that they reply. Are you a fan? Did this person or their work impact your life? Did you implement some of the same techniques that they inspired? How? Proving that you are engaged and taking action will go farther than you ever realized when building rapport. Successful people truly want to see others succeed. There’s great pleasure and therapeutic value in mentorship.
2.) Be Clear and Concise
With what do you need help? Consider this question carefully. No one wants to read five paragraphs of your stream-of-consciousness, stating how frustrated you are, or making excuses for your (lack of) results. No one cares, so get to the point. Most emails don’t have any reason to be longer than five carefully-crafted sentences, but I have read many great requests that warranted my immediate attention in three. Sadly, most people are extremely lazy in their requests. They make it difficult for the person they are writing to even understand how they can help, and won't even take 90 extra seconds to make their email count. After this blog, you’re not going to be one of these people any longer. I receive at least a dozen emails a day that I immediately swipe to the left into the abyss of Archived emails. If you send an email that exudes your frustration, I promise, you’re just going to frustrate whoever it is you’re writing. Not only will they not want to help you, you can rest assured, you will not receive a reply because you took absolutely zero time crafting your request. For example, if I have a tech issue I'll work for at least 20 minutes or so trying to figure it out for myself prior to writing an email for help with the issue.
3.) Follow-up
Look, everyone’s busy these days. Sometimes, even when I mean to do something, I don’t get around to it before it’s buried under a mountain of other things rallying for my attention. Don’t be afraid to follow-up after 3-5 days. This may make all the difference in receiving a reply. Make it a short reminder though... perhaps one sentence.
That’s it. Now reach out with confidence, and get the help you need!
No comments:
Post a Comment