I will follow-up with people

Daily Keys to Success

These daily excerpts from Randy Kay's book Daily Keys to Success will show you how to grow your potential while expanding your personal success to lead a life of significance. You will benefit from 365 topics with ideas, tools, and tactics for living life fully.

Good follow-up may be one of the most neglected success factors in life. Many people we meet professionally or casually just do not merit a follow-up. We don’t have time to circle back with everyone we meet. However, everyone we meet should fall into one of two categories: Contributors or Relaters. Relaters are friends, family members, acquaintances, and long-time professional relationships that are sustained without the need for any motivation. Follow-up with these people is only occasional or as needed.

Contributors are people whose support must be nurtured or developed in order to elicit something in return. Timely feedback must be maintained with these people in order to build a sense of urgency to get something done (preferably to your advantage). For example, a sales call with a potential customer should receive a prompt follow-up, as should the regular customer who is in need of critical assistance.

Those with whom you interview should always receive a follow-up email or (preferably) a note within a day or two. Follow-up to Contributors should add value to the recipient, such as a way in which you can help them, or provide useful resources to them. This builds trust and credibility, and the more value you can provide to someone, the more likely they are to support your needs. If you can’t help them in the immediate, then at least communicate a plan of action for doing so. For example, you might say to a client that you don’t have any information about their area of interest now, but you will conduct thorough research for some available options. Make sure to establish expectations with your Contributor as to the timeline for follow-up. Ask them how soon or by what date they would like to receive something so that you are both aligned.

A good idea is to make a list of important Contributors, noting things that would be useful or helpful for them, in order to keep their needs top of mind. Timely feedback is an easy way of differentiating yourself from your competition, and it can be as easy as a quick telephone call or email to confirm a service, next-step, or delivery. Don’t take for granted that a Contributor will contact you. Be proactive and contact them first.

“Success comes from taking the initiative and following up…” ~ Tony Robbins