I caught myself doing something big time over the last few weeks and for once, I’m proud to say . . . I did something about it!
I caught myself getting way too comfy with nice, safe email relationships.
And its real cool too, because the world and I have seemed to have reached an unspoken understanding that its all good.
We justify it by thinking about how busy everyone is, how much easier it is to shoot a quick email and maybe, just maybe we’re very astute and have flagged this as just the new normal!
In my case, I have the ultimate excuse (don’t we all) I’m knee deep in redesigning a training program for my company and I can’t lose momentum.
Yep . . . I suck!
A few weeks ago, I caught myself red freakin handed (and upgrade from red handed) when I was clinging to my email relationships. So I did the unthinkable.
I picked up the phone and engaged in the ancient art of conversation and it blew everyone’s mind . . .
Because who the hell answers an email with a phone call?
Answer . . . Me!
Granted, I couldn’t do this with every email, but I won’t lie, I was a phone dialing, phone conversating mofo.
Makes me want to change the lyrics to that Katy Perry song to “I dialed a phone and I liked it”!
And I didn’t leave the conversations empty handed . . . No Sir!
I had a chance to reconnect with our sales force, talk about issues, challenges and even bounce around ideas for the new sales training program.
I wouldn’t have gotten that from email.
Probably because we’re all way to engrossed in “on the fly” communication!
So here’s the deal. I love email and I need email, but at times it becomes a poor excuse for a relationship.
Homework: Blow someone’s mind today and reach out and freakin touch someone.
Class dismissed . . . I have an email to send 🙂
Master Paul, you are Sooo right! I catch myself in this same trap all the time and it’s hard to break away from. I actually had a boss criticize me once for responding to HIS email with a phone call!! Thanks for spreading this message…let’s all take a stand!
Regards,
Gerry Bowler
Gee, Paul, I was gonna call YOU I was so inspired by this post, but you only have contact via an email form on the site here. 😉
You are the fibre in my sales, communication and relationships diet. If nothing else, you keep my brain moving!
Thank you,
Pat Higinbotham
What timing… I just did exactly that prior to reading your post Paul. The customer even commented that I must not have much to do if I have time to talk on the phone.
You are too right sir! With my 8th grade math skills, I calculate that one phone call is worth about 5-10 emails in terms of relationship building.
Even a voicemail message is more valuable than an email — you can tell a lot about a person is by the message they leave. Do they ramble? Are they friendly? Fast-talking? Intelligent sounding?
With email? No.
Phone calls are second only to in-person meetings for value, but that’s a topic for another blog posting, eh?
Word Uncle P’. Dang that email can be a crutch and hinder! Your example is an excellent one– we need to continue with voice relationships, not just text relationships. The two are utterly different. As always, tremendous read P’.
Really Love this one Paul ~ Dan
Thanks Dan!
Really Love this one Paul ~ Dan
Very true. Email is so easy and safe that it becomes addictive. I recently sent an email to an old client and then followed up with a call.What do you know… I ended up with a whack of new business. And we had a nice chat too!
Well done Brian!
Thanks for stopping by!
Very true. Email is so easy and safe that it becomes addictive. I recently sent an email to an old client and then followed up with a call.What do you know… I ended up with a whack of new business. And we had a nice chat too!
Well done Brian!
Thanks for stopping by!
Uncle Paul,
I use E-Mail as a tool some times for digital door knocking but there is no relationship with out real live conversation. After all people don’t buy products or services until they buy the sales dude (or dudette) first!
I’m glad I stopped by Paul 😉
Cheers to you!
Larry
One of my favorite things is calling prospects as quickly as possible after receiving an email and starting out with “Hi! I just got your email and was hoping you were still at your desk..” I especially make a point of this if they are canceling an appointment (easier reschedule, and you can often get a few minutes to move the deal forward right there) or telling me they aren’t interested anymore, sometimes they only need as little as a couple weeks. You never know until you get them talking, and most people answer if you can dial quickly.
PS. I love your writing style, you make me laugh 🙂
One of my favorite things is calling prospects as quickly as possible after receiving an email and starting out with “Hi! I just got your email and was hoping you were still at your desk..” I especially make a point of this if they are canceling an appointment (easier reschedule, and you can often get a few minutes to move the deal forward right there) or telling me they aren’t interested anymore, sometimes they only need as little as a couple weeks. You never know until you get them talking, and most people answer if you can dial quickly.
PS. I love your writing style, you make me laugh 🙂