Maybe you\u2019re like me and have gone through periods when clients or perspective clients weren’t respecting your time. I myself was getting way too frustrated with these non-existent meetings and the people I had appointments with. And then I realized that while I couldn\u2019t correct the situation entirely, there were a few things I could do.<\/p>\n
I came up with these four strategies for myself. Will they all work for you? Maybe not. Are they labor intensive? Some of them. But ask yourself, which ones are important to you. Do you want to spend an extra couple minutes now or waste a bunch of time later? Here are my suggestions to avoid being stood up at business meetings:<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re trying to coordinate calendars by going back and forth over email, it\u2019s easy to get lost in a lot of \u201cWell, when are you free?\u201d Don\u2019t play that game. Start the conversation by telling the other person several <\/i>specific times or blocks of time that work for you. Not just one. This will limit the back and forth emails significantly and guide them to making an early decision.<\/p>\n2. Send The Calendar Appointment<\/b><\/h3>\n
I\u2019ve had a few clients miss meetings because they told me they didn\u2019t add it to their calendar. Solve that problem ahead of time by being the one who sends the calendar appointment. Create the calendar appointment with a very clear subject and location and add your client to it. The only thing they\u2019ll have to do is \u201caccept\u201d the invite. Make sure to also include your name and the company you are from.<\/p>\n
As the meeting approaches check that appointment to make sure they have accepted it. If they haven\u2019t, follow up and make sure they are still good to meet at that time. An unconfirmed meeting invite is an indication that you need to reach out.<\/p>\n
In the description of the appointment, add your email and phone number as well as your client\u2019s email and cell phone number. If it\u2019s not in their signature, ask them for it.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve often found myself running between meetings and waiting for my next appointment unsure if I\u2019m being stood up. Now, I always have access to my client\u2019s contact info without having to dig through my emails to find it. When I arrive at the location, be it a coffee shop or another non-office location, I always send a text to let them know I have arrived. This will prevent the whole \u201cstanding back-to-back looking in opposite directions of each other\u201d situation.<\/p>\n
Scheduling calls is often a better use of time than in-person meetings but can be just as frustrating if you are waiting for somebody to call you.<\/p>\n
Often times, I tell my clients that I will be calling them. If they don\u2019t pick up, I usually move onto my next task without wondering when my phone is going to ring. Sometimes they\u2019ll call me, and if they don\u2019t, I usually make a note to follow up in a few days.<\/p>\n